Period: 2003-06

Funding Body: SGSL

Funds: $23,000

Project Officers: Mark Ward

Summary

Gillamii research extension project for Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands (SGSL). SGSL were conducting a series of research projects designed to develop options for livestock production from saline land that are profitable and reduce the environmental and social impacts of salinity. These projects focussed on systems incorporating halophytic shrubs in the low to medium rainfall zone of Western Australia. In the early 2000 it was unclear if saltbushes produced enough feed of sufficient quality to justify costs of establishment for livestock systems. Additionally, at this time, there was little scientific information concerning water use by halophytic shrubs in saline soils and the ecological value of saline land.

• 2003/06 SGSL Trial (Funding $11,168) Experiment 1 – to establish 16ha of saltland pastures (saltbush and acacia saligna) into an area previously established with salt tolerant perennial pastures (sown 2002). The aim is to provide answers to the following questions that the theory is that perched water tables in duplex soils are causing localised areas of salinity.

• 2004/06 SGSL (Funding $7,289)

• 2004/06 SGSL (Funding $5,542)
  

Outcome

Overall, the revegetation of saline land in the low to medium rainfall zone of WA offers benefits to producers in the form of economic returns from animal production systems and environmental health. A range of social benefits were also identified including increased visual amenity and ease of livestock management. In effect, our data indicates that positive environmental outcomes, such as reduced salinity and water logging, are linked to economic outcomes.

Report

No report Available