By Kali Fields and Dhanielle Tobias Salinity Unsuitable
By: Kali Fields and Dhanielle Tobias
Salinity: • Unsuitable soil and topography • Soil salinity is the build up of salts to such a point that it ruins the soil and vegetation. • Salinity is a natural process that results from: • high levels of salt in the soils • landscape features that allow the water table and salts in it to become movable • climatic trends that favor salt build up • Salt is a natural element of soil and water that is prevalent in Australia. D & K INC.
D & K INC.
• Replacing natural vegetation with shallow rooted crops – rising groundwater levels including dissolved salts • Salt transferred into crops root zones and wetlands, streams and rivers D & K INC.
• Salinity from irrigation – It can occur over time wherever irrigation occurs. – Soil salinity makes it more difficult for plants to absorb soil moisture. – Harmful effects on plant growth and final yield. – Damage to infrastructure. – Reduction of water quality for users. – Soil erosion. • One of the best examples of salinity was observed in Egypt in 1970 when the Aswan High Dam was built. D & K INC.
Salinity in Australia • Soil salinity is a major environmental issue in Australia. – It is a problem in most states, but especially in the south-west of Western Australia. • Some of the salts originate from marine sediments, but most have been deposited in rainfall over thousands of years. D & K INC.
D & K INC.
The Costs of Salinity in Australia • More than $130 million of agricultural production is lost annually from salinity • More than $6 million is spent every year on building maintenance related to salinity in South Australia • Salinity causes $9 million damage annually to roads and highways D & K INC.
More Effects… • The area of salt affected land in Australia is increasing at a rate of one football field/hr. • If salinity is not effectively managed within 20 yrs. , the salt content in their drinking water may exceed World Health Organization standards for desirable drinking water in two of every five days • Increased salinity could cause the extinction of approximately 450 species of native flowers and 250 species of invertebrate water fauna in the Australian wheat belt D & K INC.
• The area of salt-affected soils in 2002 was around 20, 000 square kilometers. • For example, the National Land Water Resources Audit estimates that 5. 7 million hectares have a high potential for the development of dryland salinity, and predicts this to rise to 17 million hectares by 2050. D & K INC.
THE PLAN… • We need to focus on what solutions are available that are acceptable to farmers and the community • And how we can develop the new industries that will be required to change the landscape • Perennials will be the major solution to their problem D & K INC.
Farmer Participation We believe that farmer participation in planning, implementation and interpretation stages is vital. D & K INC.
Problems farmers have with perennials: • They think grain offers their best return in profits • They have difficulty managing major changes and are not equipped to take risks • They do not have the money or time to plant new perennials • They do not know much about planting perennials – These are factors that MUST be taken into account D & K INC.
EDUCATING FARMERS ON… • When and where to plant perennials • What specific plants should be planted • What benefits come from this • How much of their farm land can be effectively planted • The future of their farm D & K INC.
The Use of Perennial Species • Until 2010, during the next four years, we will take action on ¼ of their worst total salinity area each year • Perennial legumes for difficult soils and perennial grasses. • Continuously educating on improving farming systems: • Improved land-use preparation. Environmentally practical farming systems that are more beneficial than present methods. D & K INC.
D & K INC.
The Benefits of Perennials: • Lower water tables • Often boost farm profits • Improve water management • Reduce the rate of spread of salinity • Good replacement of the natural vegetation that was removed, causing salinity D & K INC.
We will provide them with… • New perennials each year until 2010 – Mainly the salt tolerant species, such as saltbush • Knowledge on perennials to the agricultural branches of their extension In return… • They must sign a contract saying that they will continuously take care of the perennials and continue implementing our plan • Their extension must provide them with the knowledge they have gained from us D & K INC.
Saltbush a. k. a. Atriplex amnicola • A species of shrub native to the floodplains of the Murchison and Gascoyne Rivers • Multi-branched • Can get up to 12 feet wide, spreading across the ground • Leaves – bluish-green – great variation in size and shape, often spear-shaped • Very highly salt tolerant – Great long-term survival – Fairly drought tolerant – Tolerates water logging once mature • Highly favored by sheep – Recovers well from grazing D & K INC.
In Conclusion… • We will provide them with however many perennials are needed to make a change and the knowledge needed annually, until 2010 • In return, they will learn, use, and promote the knowledge to help stop salinity • If we are to manage dryland salinity we must explore all the available options. – Continue to listen to the farmers and let them have a say in the plan D & K INC.
• “Australia’s Salinity Problem. ” Australian Government. (2001): 1 -4. http: //www. napswq. gov. au/publications/salinity. html • Gale, Thomas. 2006. Australia: Agriculture. Thomson Corporation. http: //www. nationsencylopedia. com/Asiaand-Oceania/Australia-AGRICULTURE. html • Kingwell, Dr. Ross. “Know How to Tackle Salinity. ” The National Dryland Salinity Program. (6 May 2003): 1 -3. http: //www. lwrrde. gov. au/ndsp/news. asp • “Monitoring The White Death – Soil Salinity. ” Australian Academy of Science. (January 2004): 1 -6. http: //www. science. org. au/nova/075 sit. htm D & K INC.
- Slides: 21