Greenough region catchment appraisal

This report discusses a range of options for the Greenough region, which is comprised of eight shires including the Shires of Northampton, Chapman Valley, Mullewa, Greenough, Morawa, Irwin, Mingenew and Three Springs, and also the city of Geraldton. A range of options for reducing land degradation is discussed. Factors such as soil type, annual rainfall, enterprise mix and financial structure are also considered

Review of land capability assessment for the Swan Valley

Land capability review for the Swan Valley. The land capability review of the Swan Valley examined and updated previous soil and capability studies done in the area, which are still considered highly relevant for the planning requirements of the Swan Valley. As a result we have updated information on the potential for irrigated agriculture in the Swan Valley which will guide decision-making in the future. This review uses a modified version of a new approach to presenting information for land use planning, developed by DAFWA in the Mid West region. The main findings of the review include: The alluvial terraces adjacent to the Swan River and the plain to the west of the railway and south of Haddrill Road contain extensive areas of good soils that are underlain by the largest volumes of groundwater. Because of changes in land and crop management techniques and a drying rainfall pattern, areas formerly classified as unsuited for agriculture are now showing improved capability. Water availability is the major limiting factor for intensive agriculture in the Swan Valley. Water is currently fully allocated and there is no additional water available for licensing. Declining rainfall compounds this issue. There may need to be a review of allocation limits in the future. Any new water requirements will need to be sourced from the trade or transfer of existing water licences either from within the Swan Valley area or from external areas where permitted by groundwater subarea boundaries. Producers need to follow best practice to ensure irrigation efficiency is optimum for the water available to them. This information is only a starting point for assessing particular areas of land. Because of the scale of this analysis, ground-level assessments will be needed to ensure that peculiarities of any parcel or property are considered

Changing land use on unproductive soils

A three year study completed in 2010 examined farming systems in the north-eastern agricultural region and eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia which experienced a succession of variable seasons from 2000. This culminated in severe drought in 2006 and 2007. At that time, farmers experienced labour shortages and declining terms of trade triggered by cost inflation outpacing growth in commodity prices. As a result, farm business equity was eroded as farm debt escalated. This left many farm businesses in a highly vulnerable state. At the time of the study many farmers were facing an uncertain future. These experiences, coupled with a consensus within the scientific community of a drying climate, means that farming systems in these areas need to adapt and the way the land is managed will need to be modified. This project used case studies, such as perennial pastures and variable rate technology, to explore management options for soils that have been consistently unprofitable to crop. Alternative land use options such as saltbush grazing, broombush and oil mallees exist for poor performing soils. Additional options in the future may include regenerating native vegetation for carbon and the development of new plant genotypes suited to acid soils in arid environments. These options could result in more efficient farming and increase farm profitability by reducing input costs on soils that are ‘unarable’ by definition. The aim of this report is to provide policy makers and land managers with improved decision-making capacity for the appropriate use of increasingly marginal land. The characteristics and extent of unproductive soils in the north-eastern agricultural region were defined, management options were investigated, and an economic analysis was conducted. Suitable land use options and research gaps were also identified. The report will assist government and industry with policy recommendations on future management options and potential research and development opportunities for these areas

NRINFO 2019 Release: WA Natural Resource Information Available Through Web Portal

NRInfo (natural resource information) provides the user with access to digital mapping and information for natural resources across Western Australia. This information may be used for regional and strategic planning, and for identifying areas needing more intensive assessment

Distribution of classified soils in south-west Western Australia

This report provides areas, locations and properties of the main soil classifications identified in south-west Western Australia using current conventional soil map data. It is a reference point for classified soils in the south-west. It provides a way of communicating how soil properties or productivity are likely to relate to soils with similar classifications found elsewhere so that soil research or knowledge can be effectively shared around the state and across Australia. This is a high-level summary of the relationships between the main soil classifications currently used in Western Australia. These are: • Western Australian Soil Groups, WASG (Schoknecht & Pathan 2013, NRInfo 2017) • the Australian Soil Classification, ASC (Isbell et al. 1997, Isbell & National Committee on Soil and Terrain 2016) • broad soil types, referred to as Ag Soils (Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia 2013, NRInfo 2017), and used in MySoils (MySoils 2017) • local soil names (Schoknecht & Pathan 2013, and local farmers). The body of the report summarises these classifications using 17 simplified soil types or Ag Soils. The distribution of each soil type throughout the south-west is displayed on a map. Our knowledge of the current relationship of WASG and ASC classifications is shown, along with some general soil properties relevant to land management

Talking the Same Soil Language - a Simple Guide for Describing WA Soils

The Western Australian Government is working to conserve and manage the State\u27s natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations. In support of this, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) have prepared a simple instructional field guide for recording and describing Western Australian unique and challenging soils and landscapes

West Midlands region catchment appraisal 2007

Annual run-off likely to occur was calculated for farm-scale catchments within the 500-825 millimetre rainfall zone of the South West Catchment Council [Western Australia] area. When compared with historical flow measurements, this method was found to be accurate (or conservative) in 85% of all measured years, indicating its usefulness for predicting reliable annual flows

Geology, soils and climate of the Margaret River wine region

This report is an extract from the broader description and analysis of the geology, soils and climate of all the wine regions of Western Australia currently being developed by DPIRD. It expands on the brief descriptions in the second edition of \u27Viticulture\u27 (Coombe & Dry 2004) concerning the soils and landscapes of Western Australia’s main wine growing regions. We have tailored this report extract to the specific needs of the Margaret River wine region. It contains local soil names and soil-landscape zones and systems maps. The wine industry recognises the importance of giving customers an understanding of the vines’ environment and how that may influence wine character and quality. This allows growers to tell the story of their wine and their label to form direct connections between the wine producer and the consumer. This story has become even more important in the 21st century when, in addition to direct cellar sales, a good online presence is essential. The information in this report will support that story and underpin it with the most current geology, soil and climatic data