18-09-2002

Recent research has clearly spelled out the potential impacts of dryland salinity not only to farmland, but to water resources, the environment and infrastructure (towns, roads etc). More importantly, it has reinforced the need to manage the problem on a truly landscape scale.

"It is ironic that while we live in the driest inhabited continent, the base cause of dryland salinity is the inefficient use of rainfall by annual agricultural systems", said Mr Alex Campbell, Chairman of CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity. "The unused rainfall 'leaks' through to the ground water, causing rising water tables that mobilise salts toward the root zones of plants and foundations of buildings & roads. In effect, we are wasting our most precious resource - rainfall."

Speaking at the National Conference on the Productive Use and Rehabilitation of Saline Lands, being held in Fremantle, Mr Campbell added "The CRC is undertaking research programs aimed at addressing this situation through profitable new perennial based farming systems for the economic, environmental and social well being of rural Australia.

"Research activity is aimed at 70% being toward the recharge part of the landscape (ie. where rain falls and water enters the soil) and 30% the discharge (ie. into rivers, lakes and wetlands, including areas of waterlogging)."

The CRC will undertake five major programs to improve Australia's capacity to manage its salinity problems.

"One program is aimed at improving our understanding of how natural ecosystems have evolved to cope with the Australian climate, landforms and soil types", said Mr Campbell. "This in turn provides a base for developing agricultural systems that have similar characteristics and thus are sustainable and make balanced use of rainfall.

"Perennial plants dominate our natural ecosystems and are better able to utilise rainfall and moisture reserves deeper in the soil profile. So, another program is aimed at both extending the range and profitability of perennial plants, as well as seeking new woody and herbaceous plants that may have a profitable place in agricultural systems."

Mr Campbell noted that management of salinity cannot ignore the widely adopted current farming systems. "The CRC aims to extend these annual dominated systems to include perennials that also provide a benefit to the water balance. (Perennials of course have further benefits: eg. wind protection, erosion control, 'out-of-season' feed �etc.)", he said.

"Systems of perennial agriculture would include more permanent woody types appropriately placed in the landscape as well as perennial crops, pastures or shrubs that are in rotation with annual production, and alley farming. Once again, these systems will include recharge and discharge areas. They will also focus on meeting the particular requirements of our different agricultural regions - taking into account rainfall patterns and soil types."

"Dryland salinity will only be managed by a landscape scale adoption of perennial agriculture", said Mr Campbell. "But the terms of trade for present agricultural production clearly show that there is limited scope to fund non-profitable activity. It is therefore of the utmost importance that research is directed towards new plants or systems that will turn a profit to those utilising them. Social issues will also be assessed, as large scale enterprise changes can be challenging to those involved."

The urgency of the salinity problem is such that the CRC is committed to rapid adoption of research outputs already delivered through the National Dryland Salinity Program. "We are fortunate to have Wesfarmers Landmark as a supporting party who are already using their branch network and agronomists as a 'shop-front' for the CRC", said Mr Campbell. "The Wesfarmers contribution provides additional support, rather than replacing the more traditional means of information exchange and technology adoption."

While salinity management is the initial focus of resource management for the CRC, Mr Campbell predicts that in due course we will see many other benefits from a perennial based 'revolution in agriculture'. "There will be a wider range of environmental benefits, more profitable and diversified agricultural production systems and meaningful social and aesthetic outcomes for rural Australia."

 Further Information::

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