South Coast Sandplain WA – Environmental Issues

Overview

The most widespread environmental issues that have arguably the biggest impact on agriculture include soil resource management issues such as soil acidity, water repellence, wind erosion, compaction, and loss of organic matter (Table 1). These have the potential to impact greatly on the soil resource and agricultural production in both pastures and cropping. Other issues of significance include secondary salinisation and nutrient loss (primarily phosphorous) which have significant implications for the health of both waterways and farmland.

These issues affect both pastures and crops. They result in poor production and lack of persistence. Solutions for many of these include perennial pastures and where cropping is severely compromised by these issues in mixed cropping and livestock properties perennial based pasture systems can be a profitable and sustainable option.

Resource management issues like wind erosion and salinity are key drivers for the adoption of perennial farming systems in the region. The right plant can, and has, turned what has been an unproductive and difficult to manage soil into a highly productive pasture.

Table 1: Resource management issues and possible solutions/adaptions.