Trees reverse salt damage in the Adelaide Hills

Small landholders near Mt Pleasant in the Adelaide Hills are growing farm forestry plantations and perennial pastures to reduce salinity and improve productivity.

Farmland in the upper reaches of the Torrens River catchment near Mt Pleasant, Mt Torrens, Birdwood, Gumeracha and Forreston has been largely cleared of its original native vegetation and replanted with non-native, shallow-rooted crops and pastures.

This has increased the amount of salt in the region’s soils. With no deep-rooted vegetation to maintain groundwater levels, salt rises to the surface, placing great stress on crops and pastures and the remaining native trees.

Now, hundreds of landholders are taking part in a project to transform the way farms are managed in an effort to reduce the damaging effects of salinity and protect biodiversity.

Funding

Between 2001 and 2006 the Upper Torrens Landcare Group received funding for the Upper Torrens Land Management Project from the Australian and State Governments. The project is also supported by the Adelaide Hills and Barossa Councils.

Activities

Project Manager Gerry Butler said over 170 landholders were involved, with many developing property plans to manage their farms along ecological and economic lines.

To help develop a property plan a consultant will sit with a landholder and use an aerial photo of the farm to produce a base map of natural features such as soil type, erosion hazards and existing trees.

A series of clear overlays are then placed over the map to show man-made features like fences and gates, water troughs and roads. A final overlay shows the future plan for the property, such as more trees to reduce soil erosion and salinity, or changes to fencing layout.

Property plans aim to encourage farmers to plant deep-rooted perennial pastures such as phalaris, which, unlike annual pastures, make better use of rainfall year-round and prevent surface water from entering the groundwater system – a key cause of salinity.

Other methods being used to improve soil health and protect the Torrens River include planting deep-rooted native trees on farms, fencing-off the river and its tributaries and planting native trees, and setting up off-stream stock watering points.

Achievements

Gerry said regular awareness-raising sessions had encouraged landholders to get involved.

“Farmers in the area are having a big impact on the landscape with more than 1,500 hectares planted with perennial pastures, native vegetation and farm forests,” he said.

More information

1. Gerry Butler, Manager, Upper Torrens Land Management Project: (08) 8568 1876 or gbutler@barossa.sa.gov.au
   SA Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board 

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

DEWHA  | DAFF  | australia.gov.au  | NAP  | NHT 
Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts