Could Compost be the Key to Utilising Salinity in Soil?

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Demonstrating the effects of variable rate compost applications on salt scolds!

The RALF team and NACC NRM have recently taken on a new challenge, joining forces with biological soil consultant Ken Bailey, to establish a three-year trial looking at the effects of variable rate applications of compost on a salt scold, with local Perenjori farmer Brian Baxter.

There has been a small amount of research looking at the use of compost to ameliorate saline scolds with positive effects but minimal on-ground implementation of this to date. Salinity is a significant constraint to farming in the Northern Agricultural Region. Often sites that are saline are low-lying, where the soils retain more water and can display greater drought tolerance as a result, however, salinity inhibits their potential for plant growth and, therefore, productivity.

We hope that this project can support landholders to adapt and increase their resilience to significant changes in climate by demonstrating a method for reducing constraints and increasing productivity in these salinity-affected areas.

The demonstration has been started this winter, with variable rates of compost applied in strips across the trial site. Compost has been applied at rates of 1, 2 and 3 tonnes per hectare plus a control strip. Comprehensive soil testing will be carried out at regular intervals throughout the trial, with baseline samples collected prior to compost application.

Data will initially be collected over three years, as adding biological amendments such as compost to soils to improve soil health is often slow to produce demonstrable results. Applying compost can have a substantial upfront cost, and this coupled with a relatively slow response time has been identified as a key barrier to adoption by farmers. This project will allow us to gather longer-term data to share with landholders in the NAR.

The purpose of the project is to provide information to farmers who may be considering using compost as an ameliorant for salt-affected land. We hope to investigate how effective it is for improving soils and allowing crops and perennial pastures to be grown and investigate the effects of different application rates.

In 2022 barley and other grain crops will be planted in some areas of the site. We are also collaborating with the Yarra Yarra Catchment Management Group to establish both summer and winter active grasses at the site.

We are looking forward to holding field walks and future workshops at this site. We also hope to provide an opportunity for students of the nearby Morawa Agricultural College to visit the trial site and get some hands-on experience of various soil testing techniques.

For further information about this project or to register your interest in attending any upcoming field walks, please contact NACC’s Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator Team Lizzie King and Annabelle Garratt. lizzie.king@nacc.com.au / annabelle.garratt@nacc.com.au

This demonstration is supported by NACC NRM, through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.

Lizzie King – Regional Agriculture Landcare Facilitator

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In 2020-21 I talked about ‘raising the bar’. In 2021-22 we worked on setting the bar on fire. Over the last 12 months, the team at NACC NRM has not stopped.

The Sustainable Agriculture team has extended the program’s reach through collaborations with grower groups in the regions. Specifically, the Beyond Reasonable Drought project and Grower Group Alliance – South West WA Drought Innovation Hub – Geraldton Node project. The Beyond Reasonable Drought partnership with grower groups supported farmers across the region to improve the environmental sustainability of their agricultural production and drought resilience. The outcomes of this project have been consolidated through our successful Expression of Interest to the South West WA Drought Innovation Hub, with support from grower groups across the region, to host the Geraldton Node of the Hub. The program continues to focus on working with agricultural networks to share technical expertise and provide opportunities that will improve land management practices in agriculture across the region.

The conservation outcomes of ranger teams have expanded through work on several land tenures. Maintaining Heritage sites such as Willi Gulli, Racecourse Paddock and Buller River has long been a priority. During 2021-22, the teams have increasingly focused on threatened species and ecosystems.

To this end, Western Mulga rangers have improved management across 19,000 ha for the conservation of Malleefowl through firebreak and access management. They completed the maintenance of water holes and supported the monitoring of over 90 Malleefowl mounds.

Similarly, the Kwelena Mambakort Aboriginal Corporate ranger team have contributed positively to Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo populations by installing artificial hollows and habitat restoration.

All ranger teams have collected native seed, propagated native plants for restoration, and planted native vegetation in key locations across the NAR. Seed collection provides valuable industry experience and has facilitated the planting of over 100,000 seedlings during the year.   

In September 2021, the NACC NRM team delivered the WA Threatened Species Forum, held in tandem with the National Malleefowl Forum. Given the impact of COVID and the timing of this event, having more than 100 delegates from all over Australia was a significant achievement. The two Forums brought together 12 events over five days and featured 14 local artists, 25 businesses and 36 youth participants.

Following the successful relaunch of our updated NARvis, NACC NRM was invited to help lead a significant piece of strategic planning work for the region with Mid West Development Commission and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. With funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, the consortia delivered a Regional Drought Resilience Plan covering the shires of Northampton and Chapman Valley and the City of Greater Geraldton, along with significant technical analysis of drought vulnerability for the South West land division. The development of this plan also included extensive community consultation to ensure that local knowledge and technical advice guided the development of priorities for action.

This planning work links to existing NACC NRM on-ground projects, including Beyond Reasonable Drought and the Chapman Catchment Collaborative regeneration project.

It was a busy year for events with face-to-face events becoming commonplace again. During 2021-22 we hosted events in Gingin, Moora, Dalwallinu, Cervantes, Jurien Bay, Walkaway, Nabawa, Perenjori, Kalannie and Morawa. We supported events in Karakin, Thundellara, Perenjori, Paynes Find, Wubin, Cataby, Warradarge, Northampton, Yuna, Dalwallinu and Dandaragan.

We also supported on-ground works throughout the region, including at the following locations Yuna, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Merkanooka, Goodlands, Kalannie, Bunjil, Yardarino, Canna, Kondut, Latham, Kadathinni, Nabawa, Red Gully, Sandy Gully, Waddy Forrest, Devils Creek, Perenjori, Bowgada, Ellendale, Wandana, Namban, Hill River, Warradarge, Gillingarra, Regans Ford and Moonyanooka.

Our region is vast – slightly larger than Tasmania, which for comparison, is serviced by three separate NRM organisations. Covering the NAR region and its many environmental threats is challenging. We continue to focus on partnerships and collaboration to address this challenge. We know that by working with our community through passionate delivery of collaborative on-ground projects and education, the community will value and actively protect our region’s natural capital.

This year we have launched a new Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP Working Group consulted widely and developed an Innovate RAP which Reconciliation Australia approved in March 2022. The activities to fulfil these commitments are now in full swing.

Sadly, at the end of 2021, we farewelled former NACC NRM CEO Shelley Spriggs, who lost a long battle with cancer. Shelley was an inaugural inductee to the NRM Leadership Honour Roll. I will always be grateful for her guidance and no-nonsense approach, not to mention her passion for life.

While we have said farewell to some, we have welcomed many new faces across all programs, including our Administration team. We have also hosted a school-based trainee from Nagle Catholic College who has been working towards a Certificate II in Conservation and Ecosystem Management. This trial position has been very successful, and we look forward to making this opportunity available again in 2023.

During 2022 we have taken on new projects that align with our organisational and program objectives, and we have successfully completed some great initiatives that support continued conservation and sustainability outcomes. I want to thank the whole team who continue to go above and beyond for the organisation and each other proving their ongoing commitment to our purpose and our values.