Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Soothing salt-scalded land near Renmark
Most Australians would have seen images of salt-scarred land as a result of dryland salinity.
It's hard to imagine these areas recovering, let alone making an economic contribution to local communities. However thanks to an innovative project in South Australia some of these areas could be transformed into productive land.
Four sites have been selected between Renmark and the Victorian border to trial the salt tolerance of a range of native species.
Funding
With over $6000 from the Australian Government, work is underway to find out which species can grow in highly saline areas and then, in the longer term, help farmers to use the land for sustainable production.
Activities and achievements
Tahlee Norman of the Renmark to Border Local Action Planning Association (LAPA) said all four sites had been severely affected by salinity to the point where it was killing or had killed native vegetation and was no longer able to support crops.
Plants being trialled include bush tucker species such as Quondong, Sandalwood and Wattleseed, as well as Satltbush, Casuarina and Melaleuca.
Tahlee says the most noticeable results have been at the Nanya Vineyard at Murtho, north of Paringa.
"Previously salt-scalds had started to appear on the surface of the soil and were killing some of the vines. We planted three species of low growing saltbush in July last year and are already beginning to see positive results. The saltbush is helping keep weeds at bay and saving on weed sprays," she said.
"The original plants have germinated and are spreading naturally and the manager of the vineyard is really happy with the results. We're expecting the vineyard to experience productivity gains as a result of the work we are doing which is really exciting."
Three of the four sites are on private land and Tahlee said local landholders have been very keen to get involved. "They often make time to come out and help plant the seeds and seedlings. At the Lyrup Irrigation Disposal Basin, seedlings are being grown by residents of the local aged care home and planted by kids from the Lyrup Primary School," she said.
Tahlee says the project will give irrigators and landholders some new options for restoring salt-affected land. A comprehensive information pack is being developed to help them achieve this, which will even include seed packs of the most successful species to give them a head-start.
More information
- Tahlee Norman, Renmark to Border LAPA: (08) 8586 4346 or email lwmpio@riverland.net.au
- Renmark to Border LAPA
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