Caring for country - Northern and Yorke Natural Resources ...

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4on the land What lies beneath the soil Soil acidity is a problem lurking in the soils of the Northern and Yorke region, stealthily reducing productivity of agricultural land and threatening some of the region’s other natural resources. Left untreated, acid soils will worsen until virtually nothing will grow in them. Jamestown farmer Lyn Moore testing for soil acidity. Photo: Mary-Anne Young Treating acid soils ‘adds up’ Concerned about ryegrass, Lyn and John Moore began treating acid soils in 1993. “A local agronomist suggested that ryegrass was more competitive than wheat on acidic soils and this started us thinking about the need to treat our soils,” said Lyn. The Moores began liming paddocks, when soil pH tests started to return results of around five. The first paddock to be limed was a lucerne paddock from which a large amount of hay had been cut over the years. Now the Moores keep an eye on their paddock yields, and when there is a suspicion that a paddock is not performing as well as it should, its pH is tested and then limed if necessary. The property is a crop and livestock mixed farm near Jamestown with an average annual rainfall of 450mm. Soils are predominantly red loams or clay loams over a clay subsoil on the flats and mid-slopes, with grey calcareous loams in the hills. Cereals, canola and lucerne are grown in rotation with legume pastures. Paddocks are limed at a rate of 2.5 t/ha and this is expected to last over 10 years. This year’s cost of liming amounted to over $112/ha with lime at $15/tonne, freight $20/ tonne and spreading $25/ha. “It does add up when you look at all the costs with freight being the killer but then those costs are spread over 10 years,” says Lyn. “And while we can’t put a specific figure on yield improvements, they are definitely there.” Soil acidification, while a natural process, is accelerated by agricultural practices. One of the key causes is the production of grain, hay, meat and wool. When these are harvested or taken from the paddock, a considerable proportion of the more alkaline elements are removed (such as calcium, phosphorus and potassium) leaving more acidic compounds behind. The higher the production, the greater the removal and hence rate of acidification. In a ‘closed’ ecosystem, these plant and animal products are recycled and returned to the soil resulting in a balanced soil pH. Certain fertilisers used in agricultural production tend to produce acidic compounds such as nitrate and sulphate. If these nutrients are not taken up and used by plants, they can result in soil acidification. Similarly, legumes (such as clovers, medics, lupins, beans and peas) fix nitrogen and produce nitrate. Unused nitrate can leach through the soil, making it more acidic. Some soil types are more predisposed to acidification than others, for example, those in high rainfall areas where clay and calcium have been leached out over geologic time. In the Northern and Yorke region, these soils tend to occur in the Southern Flinders Ranges and in the hills to the west of Clare. In other areas, such as the lucerne flats around Marrabel, Saddleworth, Tothill, Farrell Flat and Bundaleer, neutral soils have become acidic over time due to high production and removal. The major problem with soil acidity is that it affects soil fertility and nutrient availability. When a soil is acidic, deficiencies in phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and potassium are common. Conversely, aluminium concentrations increase, becoming toxic to plants and severely reducing plant production. In very acidic soils, clay minerals break down irreversibly, leading to chemical erosion, reduced nutrient retention and lower water holding capacity. Heavy metals bound to clay particles can be released into soil solution leading to contamination of water supplies. The most practical way of dealing with soil acidity is to lift a soil’s pH using lime. The alkaline product neutralises soil acidity. Rates of lime application (in tonnes per hectare) are based on the soil’s texture and how much the soil pH should be increased. With lime costing around $15/tonne and additional expenses of freight and spreading, it can cost around $60 /ha to spread one tonne per hectare on a property approximately 200 km from the lime source. Farmers in the Northern and Yorke region are applying lime to counteract acidity. However across the region, the estimated amount being applied is far less than the amount considered necessary to balance acidification rates. Nearly 60,000 tonnes of lime per annum is believed to be required to balance acidification but over the last 10 years, only about 24,000 per annum has been applied. This means that regionally the problem is worsening and some farmers could well be experiencing losses in production because of soil acidity. This article was contributed by Rural Solutions SA soils and land management consultants Mary-Anne Young and Natalie Watkins Rising water value Less rainfall and a warming climate have made surface water a rare commodity pretty much everywhere in South Australia; in the driest state in the driest continent, water is becoming the new gold. And like gold, the scarcer it gets, the more looking after it needs. That’s why the Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board has kicked off a new plan to make sure any surface water is treated with the respect any precious resource deserves. The Board’s water officer, Jennifer Munro, said the Board was monitoring permanent surface water – identifying pools across the region and setting up a program looking at water level, water quality and plants and wildlife and was looking for landholders with permanent water to be part of the program. “Rivers, creeks, floodplains and lakes are natural features of the landscape and over generations, people have diverted or altered the flows of these natural watercourses to meet specific needs,” Ms Munro said. “It may have involved simply planting or removing vegetation, clearing out a creek bed, creating or enlarging a dam or constructing a water crossing. “Now, you need to share your plans with the Board about anything you may want to do that affects any natural watercourse. In specified areas throughout the Northern and Yorke region, a Water Affecting Activities (WAA) permit will be needed before carrying out work on a natural water resource.” Ms Munro said work in areas that naturally channel water could degrade riverbeds and riverbanks or cause sediments to head downstream and impact on waterways. “There is potential for long-term damage to the health of water resources that can affect other dependent users including people, plants and animals,” Ms Munro said. Ms Munro said licensing was a positive step forward because it helped target waterrelated restoration and remediation projects. Landholders are invited to be involved by providing access to their surface water features. Priority ground, surface and watercourse areas have been designated in the Northern and Yorke region where WAA permits apply. The areas are outlined in maps in Volume D of the NRM Regional Plan, which can be downloaded from the Board’s website www.nynrm.sa.gov.au. Hard copies and CDs of the maps are available from Board offices. Ms Munro said landholders, property managers, councils, industry bodies or organisations planning surface water affecting activities in priority areas should lodge permit applications with the Board. For more information contact Jennifer Munro on 8636 2361 or email jennifer.munro@nynrm. sa.gov.au 24 Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board
4coast lines Diving into marine education The foreshore beside Port Augusta Yacht Club was recently transformed into a living classroom when around 130 primary school students came together to learn more about the marine environment. The Marine Environment Day provided students from local schools with insights into the importance of aquatic biodiversity, tides and water movement, and threats posed by marine pests. Coastal program a shore success It’s very tempting for coastal gardeners to plant a few cuttings or seedlings that seem to be doing well in the neighbourhood. South African daisies and numerous species of succulents are freely obtainable from nearby gardens and sandhills and they can look good within a couple of months. Isn’t this better than driving to a nursery to buy native seedlings that may also take longer to look as good? “Not so,” says David Sloper, NRM officer with Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board, who has just helped rewrite an excellent guide, Coastal Gardens: A planting guide for the Northern and Yorke Coastal Region. “Imported weeds such as South African daisies and succulents have no natural pests or diseases to slow them down, so when they get established they take over – especially when they jump the fence,” Mr Sloper said. Launched by Marine Advisory Committee chairman Peter Solomon, the event was organised by the Northern and Yorke NRM Board’s Upper North team and supported by the Port Augusta Marine Advisory Committee, Port Augusta Council and the former Department of Environment and Heritage. The Board’s Upper North team leader Kevin Teague, and administration officer Stacey Shackleford, said superb weather allowed the students to enjoy a day out of their normal classroom and gain a greater understanding of the importance of caring for the natural environment. “The result of these weeds taking over is that local native species are crowded out and that means native birds, lizards and butterflies find it harder to find the local foods and shelter they need.” To encourage gardeners along the coast from Port Wakefield to Port Augusta, the planting guide will be available from NYNRM Board and council offices and from local nurseries. The booklet will be launched in Wallaroo on 21 October by Hon Paul Caica, Minister for Environment and Conservation, in an official ceremony at the Wallaroo North Beach coastal plant demonstration garden. The coastal garden was jointly developed by the Copper Coast Council and the NYNRM Board, and will also be launched on the day - the first of at least nine coastal demonstration gardens planned for the region. The gardens are designed to show coastal residents a range of up to 20 local plant species that can be safely grown along our coastline. The species have been selected for their low mature height, form, flowering and foliage colour. Sites at Port Clinton, Port Vincent and Port Kevin said it was very much a hands on, interactive experience for the students with highlights including a presentation on coast and marine pests, and camera vision of underwater life. Children also took part in a mangrove forest walk, a guided tour of the Port Augusta Aquatic Centre, and an inspection of the Coast Guard shed, boat and equipment. Above: Port Augusta West Primary School students on board a coast guard boat. Photo Jessie Nicolson Broughton will be completed shortly with planning well underway for sites at Coobowie, Marion Bay, Point Turton, Port Victoria and Port Hughes. It is hoped that sites can also be established in conjunction with local government in Port Wakefield, Port Augusta and the Port Pirie region. Most of the gardens have been part-funded by the NYNRM Board under its Community Grants program. The launch will be followed by a series of free community workshops along the coast from Port Wakefield to Port Augusta. The NYNRM Board is already working closely with local nurseries to ensure that they are familiar with the planting guide and that stocks of recommended plants are available in the region. The planting guide will also be available on line through the Northern and Yorke NRM Board website at www.nynrm.sa.gov.au Beach access on track A motor vehicle access management strategy has been developed for coastal councils in the Northern and Yorke region. The strategy to control unauthorised vehicle access has been adopted by each of the seven Councils represented in the Coastal Councils Network (CCN) – Wakefield, Yorke Peninsula, Copper Coast, Barunga West, Port Pirie, Mount Remarkable and Port Augusta. A coastal councils signage guide has also been developed to provide a consistent management approach across each of the Local Government areas. These outcomes follow a three-year CCN research project managed through the Central Local Government Region of Councils with funding support from the Northern and Yorke NRM Board and the Australian Government’s Envirofund. Unauthorised access by motor vehicles – including two and four-wheel drive vehicles, trail and quad bikes and specialised vehicles such as dune buggies – was identified as a major threat to environmental, cultural, social and economic assets and values along the region’s shoreline. Anita Crisp, executive officer of the Central Local Government Region of Councils, said managing vehicle access to key coastal locations required both a consistent methodology and recognition of unique conservation values and resources within each Council area. “Excess access roads will be considered for closure,” she said. “Other key actions will include rationalisation of informal access tracks through coastal vegetation and clearly marked preferred tracks. Foreshore parking facilities will be improved at areas of preferred coastal access.” Ms Crisp, who is also the Local Government representative on the Northern and Yorke NRM Board, said other actions under the management strategy include: • speed restriction zones at beaches identified for motor vehicle access; • prohibiting driving on vegetated dune areas; • improving safety and awareness through signage and education programs; and • a requirement that all motor vehicles accessing coastal areas are to be registered and operated by licensed drivers. The actions plans will be implemented progressively over a five-year period. “This will require a process of engagement with four-wheel driver owners, trail bike riders, Aboriginal groups, local residents, tourism operators and others who have an interest in vehicle access to beaches and coastal reserves,” Ms Crisp said. Northern and Yorke Natural Resources Management Board 25
Page 1 and 2: A publication of the Northern and Y
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