Upland Peatlands of Eastern Australia as Important Water Storage Reservoirs

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area contains over 5,000 ha of peat forming upland swamps (n = 1,858) and numerous freshwater lagoons and lakes such as the Thirlmere Lakes southwest of Sydney. These systems are well known for their water storage capacity, even during dry spells. Here we use peat depth measurements and water content calculations to quantify potential water storage capacity within Lake Baraba in the Thirlmere Lakes National Park. We fi nd that total water storage capacity of the peat in Lake Baraba is 150±17.3 ML. We also calculate total water storage of peat-forming upland swamps across the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area which totals ~60,600 ±33,500 ML. The implications of climate change and anthropogenic disturbance on the water storage and supply functions of these systems as part of the Sydney water supply catchment provides a strong case for their conservation

Artificial drainage of peatlands: hydrological and hydrochemical process and wetland restoration

Peatlands have been subject to artificial drainage for centuries. This drainage has been in response to agricultural demand, forestry, horticultural and energy properties of peat and alleviation of flood risk. However, the are several environmental problems associated with drainage of peatlands. This paper describes the nature of these problems and examines the evidence for changes in hydrological and hydrochemical processes associated with these changes. Traditional black-box water balance approaches demonstrate little about wetland dynamics and therefore the science of catchment response to peat drainage is poorly understood. It is crucial that a more process-based approach be adopted within peatland ecosystems. The environmental problems associated with peat drainage have led, in part, to a recent reversal in attitudes to peatlands and we have seen a move towards wetland restoration. However, a detailed understanding of hydrological, hydrochemical and ecological process-interactions will be fundamental if we are to adequately restore degraded peatlands, preserve those that are still intact and understand the impacts of such management actions at the catchment scale

Environmental and biodiversity impacts of organic farming in the hills and uplands of Wales

1. Organic farming is based on principles of co-existence with natural systems, the minimisation of pollution and damage to the environment, and the promotion of the health of soil, plant and animal to produce healthy food with high standards of animal welfare and respect for the wider social and ecological impacts of the agricultural system. 2. Organic Farming has become an important aspect of EU agri-environment policy. Since the implementation of EC Reg. 2078/92 the EU promotes organic farming explicitly on its positive effects on the environment. 3. The environmental and biodiversity benefits of organic systems in the lowlands for mixed farming is generally accepted (Shepherd, 2003) but similar benefits for upland systems have not been identified. This report has been produced by OCW with funding from CCW to address this gap. Where relevant, means to ensure the beneficial impacts through changes to agri-environment schemes, organic standards, and education and dissemination are identified. 4. Hill and uplands are characterised as areas over 200m above sea level where the physical landscape results in production constraints. 5. Biodiversity losses linked to changes in hill and upland agriculture include the erosion of genetic diversity in farmed livestock and crops as well as in wildlife and flora, a reduction in habitat, soil and wildlife diversity and the loss of local knowledge and farming culture. 6. The organic approach to sustainable agriculture in hill or upland systems is through the use of multi species swards and mixed stocking. 7. The report identifies potential points of difference between organic and conventional management practices with regard to hill and upland farming and highlights research requirements to confirm or explore those potentials. 8. Conventional farms can adopt any or all of the practices of the organic farming system, but the engagement with the entire system and annual inspections are specific to the organic farmer. 9. The impacts are not just determined by the system of organic regulations and but also by the management ability and technical skills of the farmer and workers. 10. The practices on organic livestock farms identified that may differ from conventional and have direct biodiversity or environmental impacts are: lower stocking rates (overall manure loading maximum of 170kg/N/ha/yr); an adjustment of the stocking balance (increasing ratio of cattle to sheep); keeping indigenous breeds and strains adapted to the environmental conditions on the farm; limitation on products to control external parasites; reduction and restriction on the use of prophylactic veterinary medicines; the use of foragebased diets; storage and use of slurries, manures and composts, and constraints on the import and export of nutrients. 11. Organic practices in management of grassland and crops identified that may differ from conventional and have direct biodiversity or environmental impacts are: cessation of N fertiliser use; restriction on P & K use; use of lime to maintain pH; use of clovers and herbs in grass leys; cessation of use of chemical pesticides and all herbicides; mechanical and manual weed control and sensitive and timely cultivations; the use of mixed farm systems and rotations on in-bye land; the use of cover crops and undersowing; the use of green manures. 12. Organic regulations do not require habitat creation, but standards state, “that concern for the environment should manifest”…“in high standards of conservation management throughout the organic holding”. Discussion 13. Apart from practices that impact directly on biodiversity or the environment, each management decision on the farm will have knock-on effects that have their own consequences, for example welfare standards for livestock require bedding materials and greater housing space. 14. Organic farms operating solely in the hills and uplands can only be part of a system. Use of in-bye land or having a relationship with lowland holdings to provide winter-feed and forage is necessary to comply with regulations. This will increase the amount of lowland managed organically, bringing widely recognised environmental benefits. 15. Organic agriculture is, by legal definition, a system of production and is based on principles and uses practices adopted to optimise the health of the system. Any farmer may adopt individual practices, and the Tir Gofal scheme provides an opportunity for farmers to provide positive conservation measures, whether conventional or organic. Farming under the EU Regulation defining Organic farming provides assurance to the end consumer that the system used to produce or process the food product was according to that system. This provides a reliable means for consumers to support a system of agriculture that fits more closely with their expectations than intensive systems. 16. Any advantages of lower stocking rates and mixed stocking will only be maintained while organic farms are viable. Organic labelling provides an opportunity for consumers to make a positive choice for high welfare, environmentally benign systems; however the difficulties of marketing, the lack of consumer awareness of food production issues and unwillingness to pay are barriers to access to premium markets for many producers. Conclusions: 17. The potential benefits of individual practices outlined in the document are often clear, but there are currently few data to confirm the extent of some of the practices that may have most beneficial impact. The need for data on actual practices of the organic farmers in the hills and uplands is therefore highlighted. 18. Few Standards changes are recommended, however the monitoring of derogations to standards and use of restricted veterinary inputs is recommended. 19. Research and development needs, technical, education and dissemination, and agri-environment policy issues which may establish, ensure, or enhance the environmental and biodiversity impacts of organic farming in the hills and uplands are outlined. 20. Infrastructure work to integrate hill and upland and lowland systems is necessary to facilitate organic farming in the uplands; this may assist the viability of lowland organic holdings: the environmental benefits of which are established

Pengelolaan Tanah dan Air Pada Budidaya Padi Gogo dan Palawija di Bawah Tegakan Tanaman Tahunan untuk Meningkatkan Produktivitas Lahan

Abstrak. Pengembangan padi gogo di lahan kering yang ditunjang oleh teknik pengelolaan tanah dan air yang tepat, berpeluang sebagai salah satu alternatif penyediaan pangan masa depan dan mampu mendukung peningkatan ketahanan pangan nasional. Perluasan areal tanam untuk tanaman padi gogo di lahan kering di bawah tegakan merupakan salah satu strategi dalam menyokong peningkatan produksi padi sawah. Inovasi teknologi pertanian untuk pengembangan padi gogo pada lahan kering di bawah tegakan tanaman tahunan perlu dilaksanakan secara terpadu meliputi: 1) penggunaan varietas toleran naungan, 2) pengembangan teknik konservasi tanah seperti pembuatan teras, guludan, rorak; penggunaan mulsa dan penanaman rumput, 3) pengembangan sistem  integrasi tanaman-ternak, 4) pemanfaatan teknologi panen air melalui embung, dam parit, long storage, dan pemanfaatan air sungai. Pengelolaan air pada pengembangan padi gogo dan palawija di bawah tegakan tanaman tahunan terutama pada musim kemarau merupakan hal yang mutlak dilakukan. Sumber air irigasi dapat berasal dari infrastruktur panen air atau sumber air lainnya.Abstract. The development of upland rice in dry land, which is supported by appropriate soil and water management techniques, has the opportunity as an alternative in future food procurement efforts. It could also support the improvement of national food security. Expansion of the planting area for upland rice in dry land under crops is one of the strategies to support the increasing rice production. Innovations of agricultural technology for the development of upland rice on dry land under estate crops or forestry should  be implemented in an integrated manner, including: 1) the use of shade tolerant varieties, 2) the development of soil conservation techniques such as terraces, mulch and grass planting, 3) development of crop-livestock integration systems, and 4) utilization of water harvesting technology through small reservoir, channel reservoir, long storage, and river utilization. Water management is absolutely necessary in the development of upland rice and secondary crops under annual crops.  The alternatives  water resources for irrigation are water harvesting infrastructure and other water sources

Stewardship Plan for Garrity Reserve, Lee, NH

The 16.02-acre Garrity Reserve lies on the west side of Garrity Road in the northeast region of the Town of Lee, New Hampshire (Map 1). The Garrity Reserve is identified on the Lee Tax Map as Map 9 Lots 3- 0 and 3-1 (Appendix A). The parcel has just over 790-feet of frontage on Garrity Road. There is no parking on the property; visitors park on the opposite side of Garrity Road, alongside the Gluke cemetery. The property is bordered by a residential subdivision to the west and rural residences to the north and south. A large portion of the property was a former sand and gravel pit operated by the Town of Durham. The two entrances to the pit are gated and the “roads” into the pit are overgrown. The remaining land is upland white pine forest. A few pockets of wetland are found at the bottom of the pit, resulting from the excavation. Early successional species including gray birch and aspen, along with white pine and pitch pine are growing in the previously excavated area. Invasive species, including multiflora rose and Japanese knotweed, heavily infest the northern entrance road and the north slope of the pit. Piles of asphalt and a large boulder pile remain. A portion of the northern slope of the pit is laden with debris, similar to an old farm dump. The steeper areas of the un-reclaimed pit are exposed sandy slopes

Low streamflow in the Myakka River Basin Area in Florida

The Sarasota-Manatee area is a water-short area and the study was undertaken in 1963 in order to determine the storage capability and discharge rates of the Myakka water shed. It was found that many of the streams of the water shed were virtually dry during part of every year. However, the basins of the Myakka lakes, through which the river flows offer some storage potential, that if properly developed would provide a continuance drift of about seven million gallons of water per day of good quality water that would be high in color and temperature upon occasion. With reasonable treatment some of this water could be used to meet the present needs of the rapidly expanding coastal areas. (PDF contains 40 pages.