| Project
Title |
Seed
and information support for farm forestry |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
CSF-56A |
| Start
Date: |
01/01/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
31/12/01 |
| Researcher: |
Mr.
Tim Vercoe |
| Organisation: |
CSIRO
Forestry and Forest Products
PO Box E4008
KINGSTON ACT 2604 |
| Phone: |
02
6281 8218 |
| Fax: |
02
6281 8266 |
| Email: |
tim.vercoe@ffp.csiro.au |
| Objective |
The
project will deliver information to farm forestry groups in a range of
packages including: an advisory service, field days, training workshops,
a national register of trials, climatic profiles, an information directory
of commercially important tree species and their wood properties, a handbook
of guidelines to assist species/provenance selection, enhanced TREDAT databases
and supply seed for regional demonstration plantings. |
| Current
Progress |
The
project has responded to inquiries from 220 groups and individuals on species
provenance selection and site matching. About 750 seedlots of around 180
species have been dispatched to growers for testing under a range of conditions.
Seventy trial sites comprising around 120 ha of trials have been designed
and planted with assistance from the project including workshops and training.
Many of the trials are in low rainfall areas and all are owned and managed
by local groups.
Reports on the quality and
suitability of a range of species for pulp and composite wood products
have been completed to look at the potential uses for residues and thinnings
from sawlog plantations of these species. The eucalypts most suitable for
pulpwood were Spotted Gum grown at Gympie, followed by Swamp Yate from
Timmering and Dunn’s White Gum from Coffs Harbour. Gully Gum also has promise
as pulpwood, ranking above Shining Gum (a commercially important species).
Two species least suitable for chemical pulping were Camden White Gum and
Araluen Gum, which both produced lower quality wood than that available
from the native forests of Tasmania. Across sites, a strong association
was found between low rainfall and poor pulpwood quality.
Climate suitability profiles
for a range of species have been produced to assist in matching them to
appropriate sites. Performance and environmental data from a range of species
and sites has been collected to support work on productivity estimates
and the TREDAT tree performance database has been expanded to cover farm
plantings as well as trials. |
| Project
Title |
Farm
forestry: Quantifying conservation and environmental service benefits |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
CSW-32A |
| Start
Date: |
01/02/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/04/02 |
| Researcher: |
Prof.
Richard Hobbs |
| Organisation: |
School
of Environmental Science
Murdoch University
MURDOCH WA 6150 |
| Phone: |
08
9360 2191 |
| Fax: |
08
9360 7412 |
| Email: |
rhobbs@essun1.murdoch.edu.au |
| Objective |
· Quantify the extent
to which native hardwood farm forestry on cleared agricultural land can
contribute to achieving biological conservation goals.
· Quantify the relationship
between floristic diversity, natural enemy diversity and insect herbivore
damage in farm forestry.
· Identify which farm
forestry practices have positive or negative impacts on biological conservation
goals, and how these practices may be modified to increase these conservation
benefits without jeopardising commercial benefits.
· Provide input to
guideline development for farm forestry which promote enhancement of native
biota eg. birds, mammals and insects, and minimise insect herbivore damage.
|
| Current
Progress |
The
project, which commenced in 1999, focuses on the area between Mount Barker
and Albany (Western Australia). In this area, the predominant pattern of
tree planting has been in block plantations. The study design involves
a number of survey sites in plantations in different positions in relation
to remnant vegetation and plantations. A series of 4-6 year old plantations
were selected around Mt Barker and north of Albany, and we are examining
the vertebrate faunal use of these plantations, the insects present in
the tree canopies, and the flora and fauna of plantations and adjacent
remnants. At each site, sampling was carried out in and late spring 1999
and 2000, and late summer 2000 and 2001.
The above design allows us
to answer the following questions:
· What is the faunal
use of plantations in comparison with adjacent remnant vegetation and with
open pasture?
· Do fauna use plantation
edges more than interiors?
· Does adjacency to
remnant vegetation increase plantation use or alter the species complement?
Currently data are being analysed
and will be written up and reported by April 2002. In addition, a broader
survey of farm forestry operations in eastern Australia will complement
the detailed field studies. |
| Project
Title |
Measurement
and integration of fauna biodiversity values in Queensland agroforestry
systems |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
QDN-6A |
| Start
Date: |
1
February 1999 |
| Finish
Date: |
31
July 2001 |
| Researcher: |
Mr.
Adrian Borsboom |
| Organisation: |
Forest
Management,
Queensland Parks & Wildlife
Service
80 Meiers Rd.
Indooroopilly
Queensland 4068 |
| Phone: |
07
3896 9300 |
| Fax: |
07
3896 9628 |
| Email: |
adrian.borsboom@env.qld.gov.au |
| Objectives |
· To measure and
compare fauna biodiversity in sub-tropical eastern Australia in a) farm
forestry eucalypt plantings b) cleared grazing land and d) native forests.
· To identify rare,
threatened, beneficial and pest fauna species using farm forestry.
· To determine economic,
practical and ecologically sustainable farm forestry practices to enhance
fauna biodiversity and nature conservation values.
· To develop a farm
forestry decision support system.
|
| Current
Progress |
This
project is comparing vertebrate fauna biodiversity between cleared grazing
land, Eucalyptus cloeziana plantations and native forest in southeast
Queensland. It is currently running to schedule. Surveys of all vertebrate
fauna groups have been successfully carried out using a range of survey
techniques. Final fauna surveys and habitat measurements were carried out
in December 2000 and January 2001on the 17 research sites. Over a two-year
period a total of two winter and two summer fauna surveys and associated
habitat measurements have been completed. Habitat data collected includes
plantation tree height, dbh and projected foliage cover. Also measured
were ground cover, vegetation structure and plant species composition.
All fauna survey data has
been inputted and verified in an access database and final analysis has
commenced. All habitat data has been inputted into an access database.
Verification of the habitat data is almost complete with the last of the
habitat data from the final field measurements currently being verified.
A final report will be finished by the end of July 2001. Extension information
will be developed in conjunction with the final report’s preparation. |
| Project
Title |
A
manual for irrigated eucalypts, incorporating salinity impacts |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
CSL-9A |
| Start
Date: |
01/03/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
31/12/01 |
| Researcher: |
Dr
Glen Walker and Dr Jim Cox |
| Organisation: |
CSIRO
Land and Water
Private Bag 2
GLEN OSMOND SA 5064 |
| Phone: |
08
8303 8743 08 8303 8510 |
| Fax: |
08
83038750 |
| Email: |
glen.walker@adl.clw.csiro.au;
jim.cox@adl.clw.csiro.au |
| Objective |
Production
of a practical manual for commercial irrigated eucalypt plantations in
the southern Murray-Darling Basin, incorporating new biophysical and economic
analysis of sustainability and productivity issues in areas of saline water
tables. |
| Current
Progress |
The
productivity of plantations grown over shallow saline groundwater is strongly
affected by the rate of accumulation of salt within the root zone. Thus,
the amount of water and salt flowing into and out of the root zone must
be simulated reliably. Modelling scenarios have now been run using the
Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) to identify the parameters
that most influence the sustainability of plantations. The effect of the
plantation on the water table depth outside the plantation is also important
as this influences the economics of the plantation (which is also being
modelled). The distance outwards from the plantation edge that experiences
lowered water tables (and the shape of this watertable) in response to
the plantation water use has been calculated using a drainage equation.
APSIM, with modifications
for waterlogging conditions, was parameterised and firstly used to simulate
plantations at Kyabram and Timmering. The results showed good comparisons
between measurements and predicted values for tree growth, water use, water
table depth, and profile salt. This gave confidence in applying the model
under a wider range of scenarios including different climates, soils and
management options. A total of 4212 scenario runs were produced.
A preliminary investigation
of the model outputs showed groundwater salinity to be more important in
the growth and survival of trees than species, soils, or water table depth.
When the groundwater is saline and close to the land surface, trees depend
on irrigation water or rain. When groundwater is at depth, groundwater
salinity plays an important role in the availability of water to trees.
Trees use and lower groundwater to a specific depth and keep it at that
depth for a period that depends on the groundwater salinity. Then, as salt
accumulates in the soil profile, tree water use is reduced, water tables
rise and biomass production declines.
The next stage of the work
is to further analyse the simulation results, and determine other important
relationships and threshold levels of the most important factors causing
production to be affected by salinity. |
| Project
Title |
Using
windbreaks to protect soil, crops and livestock |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
CSL-10A |
| Start
Date: |
01/07/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
03/12/01 |
| Researcher: |
Dr.
Helen Cleugh |
| Organisation: |
CSIRO
Land and Water
Pye Laboratory
GPO Box 1666
CANBERRA ACT 2601 |
| Phone: |
02
6246 5574 |
| Fax: |
02
6246 5560 |
| Email: |
helen.cleugh@cbr.clw.csiro.au |
| Objective |
The
key outcome from this research project is an integrated and quantitative
assessment of the role of shelter in reducing the risk of wind damage to
crops and wind chill in grazing animals. This research will focus on identifying
wind speed thresholds associated with crop damage and stock losses, and
hence on the protection offered by shelter from windbreaks. |
| Current
Progress |
There
are three main steps in this project. The first step was to identify windspeed
thresholds for damage and crop losses and quantify the wind climate for
regions in Australia of interest. This step was completed through a series
of wind tunnel measurements to empirically identify thresholds for crop
damage, and compiling statistics relating to lamb mortality from the literature
and agricultural records. Wind data were acquired for key areas in South
and Western Australia; corrected and extrapolated to provide an historical
time series.
The second step was to develop
modelling tools to simulate the various damage mechanisms – sandblasting,
leaf tearing and stripping; flower abortion and stock deaths. These modelling
tools have been developed by (a) adapting a wind erosion model to predict
sand fluxes and thence sandblasting; (b) building a simple animal energy
balance model and (c) using a simple threshold analysis from the wind tunnel
studies for flower abortion (note, we found no evidence of direct damage
to the crops of interest).
The third remaining step,
which has just begun, is to couple these damage models with the historical
wind climate record to predict damage occurrence and its probability historically,
and then the reduction in risk associated from using windbreaks. |
| Project
Title |
Quantifying
the tradeoffs between tree and crop productivity on farms |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
CST-6A |
| Start
Date: |
01/01/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
30/11/01 |
| Researcher: |
Dr.
Peter Carberry |
| Organisation: |
CSIRO
Sustainable Ecosystems
Agricultural Production
Systems Research Unit
203 Tor Street
TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350 |
| Phone: |
07
4688 1377 |
| Fax: |
07
4688 1193 |
| Email: |
peter.carberry@tag.csiro.au |
| Objective |
To
enable landholder assessment of the productivity and risk of commercial
agroforestry investment on grain farms in Australia's medium to low rainfall
regions; by:
· developing the
capacity to simulate tree-crop competition for light, water and nitrogen;
· quantifying potential
benefits and risks of planting trees;
· assisting landholder
assessment of the viability of agroforestry investments for their farms.
|
| Current
Progress |
The
capacity to simulate tree growth and productivity and to simulate microclimate
effects of windbreaks on crops are both new features of APSIM and have
been tested against field data. Recent emphasis in developing and testing
APSIM is focused on the simulation of tree-crop competition, either by
using empirical relationships or by dynamically simulating crop and tree
water use as two adjacent and interacting zones. Both approaches have been
prototyped and are currently being tested.
Available data on the tree-crop
competition zone is a significant limitation. The winter of 2000 saw extremely
dry conditions in southern Qld with clear competition observed between
field crops and planted tree belts or remnant vegetation. This project
took advantage of this opportunity to collect quantitative data on both
the extent of the competition zone and the impacts of nearby trees on crop
yields. Initially observations and measurements were taken on crop and
tree characteristics at twelve sites. Two of these sites were subsequently
selected for more detailed investigation. In summary, APSIM is being tested
against datasets from field sites in Qld, NSW and WA including:
· Existing experimental
forest sites from Gympie, Wagga, Shepparton, Mt Gambier
· Existing experimental
windbreak sites at Esperance WA, Atherton Qld.
· Project-sponsored
field observations at a range of sites across southern Qld.
· Project-sponsored
on-farm observations and sampling in southern Qld.
A number of landholders have
expressed interest in using APSIM to simulate agroforestry systems to enable
them to explore the viability of agroforestry investments for their own
farms. Such interactions will occur over winter 2001. |
| Project
Title |
Integrating
agroforestry into low rainfall farming systems |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
SAR-19A |
| Start
Date: |
4/01/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
31/12/01 |
| Researcher: |
Mr
Michael Bennell |
| Organisation: |
Primary
Industries and Resources South Australia |
| Phone: |
08
8539 2110 |
| Fax: |
08
8532 5646 |
| Email: |
bennell.mike@saugov.sa.gov.au |
| Objective |
· Provide quantitative
information on the impacts of severe wind events on dry-land crop in southern
Australia
· Analyse the risk
and economic impact of physical crop damage on crops
· Identify low rainfall
agroforestry and shelter systems most likely to be viable by undertaking
a cost-benefit analysis
· Establish demonstration
plantings of low rainfall agroforestry systems and institute long term
monitoring to validate assumptions used in the cost-benefit analysis.
|
| Current
Progress |
Narrow-leaf
lupin are prone to sandblasting damage during the establishment phase due
to their cultivation on light soil types, slow rate of cover development
and above ground growing points. Field grown plants in the establishment
phase were treated with wind blown sand using a mobile wind tunnel. Plots
were treated at an average windspeed of 13.7 m/s for run times of 0, 30,
60, 120 and 180 minutes giving average sand flux treatments of 0, 42, 78,
153 and 248 kg/m. Grain yield declined with increasing sandblasting flux
and plant damage typified by leaf destruction and stem scoring. A yield
reduction of approximately 15% was measured at the highest flux treatment.
Flower abortion in pulses
occurs as a consequence of hot, dry wind events in dryland crops in southern
Australia. A wind tunnel was used to treat potted faba bean plants with
a range of windspeed (1.5 – 16 m/s) in a controlled environment (30 0C,
20 – 30% Relative Humidity) for a duration of 120, 240 and 360 minutes.
The proportion of flowers setting pods was shown to decrease with increasing
windspeed. Reducing windspeed with windbreaks may be an effective means
of reducing crop losses in these circumstances.
Field crops in the sheltered
lee of a windbreak were measured by Yield Monitor over 4 crop seasons at
several sites throughout SA. Amalgamated results for cereals show a typical
yield response of depression in the competition zone and modest yield enhancement
in the shelter zone between 3 tree heights and 10 tree heights. The net
gain is small. Faba bean showed a substantial net increase. |
| Project
Title |
Optimising
nutrition for productivity and sustainability of farm forestry systems |
| RIRDC
Project No.: |
UJC-6A |
| Start
Date: |
01/01/99 |
| Finish
Date: |
31/12/01 |
| Researcher: |
Dr.
Bob Congdon |
| Organisation: |
James
Cook University
Tropical Plant Sciences
School of Biological Science
TOWNSVILLE QLD 4811 |
| Phone: |
07
4781 4731 |
| Fax: |
07
4725 1570 |
| Email: |
robert.congdon@jcu.edu.au |
| Objective |
To
identify pasture legume species which are able to tolerate different levels
of shading under tree plantations in the wet tropics - providing improved
forage quality and productivity for grazing in agroforestry situations,
and improving soil fertility and reducing fertiliser costs through nitrogen
fixation. The benefits to tree growers include enhanced tree growth, weed
suppression (reduced costs for herbicides), and reduced erosion on steep
or degraded sites (due to mixed ground cover). |
| Current
Progress |
A
Nelder wheel with African Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) has been
established on the JCU Townsville campus for monitoring interactions between
pasture and tree growth. The pasture is comprised of Guinea Grass (Panicum
maximum) and four species of sown legume (Centrosema brasilianum,
Chamaecrista rotundifolia, Clitoria ternatea and Stylosanthes hamata).
The third of a series of pot trials is currently underway testing a range
of legumes, suited to both the wet and the wet/dry tropics, for shade tolerance.
Light response curves have been constructed for each species and the effects
of varying shade levels upon dry matter production, nutrient content, root:shoot
ratios, nodulation, flowering and seed production have been examined. Initial
results suggest that the wet tropical species Desmodium canum, D. intortum,
D. ovalifolium, Arachis pintoi and Calopogonium mucunoides and
the wet/dry species Clitoria ternatea, Centrosema brasilianum and
Centrosema
pascuorum are tolerant to shaded conditions and have potential for
use in agroforestry systems. Field trials have been established beneath
existing plantations located in the Burdekin (in the wet/dry tropics) and
at Babinda (in the wet tropics). Properties being examined in the field
include dry matter production, seed germination, plant survival and ground
cover. |
