RIRDC Completed Projects in 2001-2002 & Research in Progress as at June 2002

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To Agroforestry Research In Progress
AGROFORESTRY AND FARM FORESTRY
COMPLETED PROJECTS
2001- 2002




PROJECT No.	PROJECT TITLE	RESEARCHER	PHONE	ORGANISATION
Targeted Strategies for Implementation
ANU-49A	Innovative use of farm vegetation: Australian experiences of making farm vegetation pay	Dr Digby Race	02 6125 2737	Australian National University
BCL-1A	Landcare loan fund project development	Mr Derek Mortimer	03 5761 1516	Broken Catchment Landcare Network Inc.
CIE-12A	Emerging Markets for Environmental Services: implications and opportunities for resource management in Australia	Dr Martin van Bueren	02 6248 6699	Centre for International Economics
ANU-33A	Plantation design and biodiversity conservation	Associate-Professor David Lindenmayer	02 6125 0654	The Australian National University
CSW-32A	Farm forestry: quantifying conservation and environmental service benefits	Professor RJ Hobbs and Dr R. Floyd	08 9360 2191	Murdoch University, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO Entomology
CSL-9A	A manual for irrigated eucalypts, incorporating salinity impacts	Dr Glen Walker and Dr Jim Cox	08 83038743 or 08 8303 8510	CSIRO Land and Water
QDN-6A	Measurement and Integration of Fauna Biodiversity Values Queensland Agroforestry Systems	Dr Adrian Borsboom	07 3896 9300	Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
CSF-56A	Seed & information support for farm forestry#CSF56A	Mr Tim Vercoe	02 6281 8206	CSIRO Forestry & Forest Products
DAW-93A	Characterisation of tree root morphology in alley systems	Dr. Robert A. Sudmeyer	08 9083 1129	Western Australian Department of Agriculture
EPL-2A	Biomass for alcohol fuels- status of technology and cost/ benefit analysis	Mr Col Stucley	03 9817 6255	Enecon
UJC-6A	Optimising nutrition for productivity and sustainability of farm forestry systems: Pasture legumes under shade	Dr Bob Congdon	07 4781 4731	James Cook University
UMU-19A	Salt Tolerant Hybrid Eucalypts	Prof Jen McComb	08 9 360 2336	Murdoch University
Optimised Productivity of crops and pastures
CSL-10A &  SAR-19A	Using windbreaks to protect soil, crops and livestock and Integrating agroforestry into low rainfall farming systems	Dr Helen Cleugh and Mr. Mike Bennell	02 6246 5574 (Cleugh) & 08 8372 0188 (Bennell)	CSIRO Land and Water (Cleugh) Natural Resource Centre, Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, SA (Bennell)


 
 

Optimised direct returns from tree products
CSI-8A	Biomass fuel Characterisation	Wes Stein, John Saxby, Paul Marvig and Peter Chatfield	02 9710 6886	CSIRO Energy Technology
CSF-58A	Tree improvement for low rainfall farm forestry in southern Australia	Dr Chris Harwood & David Bush	02 6281 8323	CSIRO Forestry & Forest Products
CSF-59A	Technologies for managing native forest on farms	Dr Bob McCormack and Mr Peter Clinnick	02 6281 8220	CSIRO Forestry & Forest Products
CST-6A	Quantifying the tradeoffs between tree and crop productivity on farms	Dr Peter Carberry	07 4688 1377	CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems
CPF-2A	Silvicultural management of blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) for growth, form and wood quality	Dr Chris Beadle	03 6226 7911	CRC Sustainable Production Forestry
DAQ-240A	Silviculture of rainforest cabinetwoods	Mr Mark Annandale	07 4095 7507	Queensland Forestry Research Institute
DAQ-261A	Commercial eucalypt hybrid plantings for marginal lands in northern Australia	David Lee, Valerie Debuse, Peter Pomroy, Ken Robson, and Garth Nikles	07 5482 0885	Queensland Forestry Research Institute
EPL-1A	Biomass energy production alternatives in Australia: status, costs and future opportunities for major technologies	Mr Col Stucley	03 9817 6255	Enecon
QDN-3A	Estimating the productivity of forest systems in southeast Queensland	Dr. Kristen Williams (QDNR&M) and Mr. Paul Ryan (QFRI)	07 38969395 (DNR&M) & 07 54820868 (QFRI)	Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines  Queensland Forestry Research Institute
PN99.2007	The Cost Benefits of Small Log Processing – Laminated Three-Ply Flooring (A Case Study in WA)	Phil Shedley	08 9534 3258	VALUWOOD International
UA-55A	An electronic atlas of Australian biomass energy resources	Ian Nuberg, Adrian Bugg & Lyndon Zimmermann	08 83037729 &  02 6272 3503	University of Adelaide & Bureau of Rural Sciences
WS012-06	A workshop on the potential of broadacre wattle seed production	Dr Peter Chudleigh & Ms Sarah Simpson	07 3870 9564	Agtrans
Cost effective multi-purpose systems for commercial and environmental purposes
BDB-2A	Policy and Investment options for achieving environmental and commercial benefits	Barry Buffier & Allen Consulting Group	02 9440 8647	Gucane
QDN-4A	A whole-farm and regional agroforestry decision making system	Dr Paul Lawrence	07 3896 9560	Department of Natural Resources and Mines
UNT-6A	Feasibility of local, small scale native plant harvests for indigenous communities	Dr Peter Whitehead	08 8946 6703	Northern Territory University
Effective Communications
MS012-18	Integration Series- riparian zone guidelines	Ms Lisa Robins	02 6230 6779	Robins Environmental Consulting
UM-44A	Continuation and expansion of the Australian Master Treegrower R&D Program	Mr Rowan Reid	03 8344 5011	The University of Melbourne

Targeted strategies for Implementation
 

Project Title:	Innovative use of farm vegetation: Australian experiences of making farm vegetation pay
RIRDC Project No.:	ANU-49A
Researcher:	Dr Digby Race
Organisation:	ANU Forestry The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200.
Phone:	02 6125 2737
Fax:	02 6125 0746
Email:	Digby.Race@anu.edu.au
Objectives	The project’s research and development objectives were to: · Analyse a range of management and marketing strategies used by leading farm vegetation practitioners around Australia (analysis of 8 case studies) – particularly those with new products directed at new markets; · Document the approach used by the selected practitioners; · Identify the critical elements of each marketing approach; and · Publish a booklet that can be widely disseminated amongst farm forestry stakeholders – particularly aimed at current and prospective practitioners
Background	Australia is attempting to create productive and sustainable rural landscapes – landscapes based on the innovative use of farm vegetation. While continually looking for new products, there is also considerable interest in how farmers can capture the financial returns from the ‘services’ of farm vegetation, such as via carbon, salinity and biodiversity credits. Yet, many of the environmental services of farm vegetation are complex and are still to translate into direct payments to individual landholders. Consequently, many farmers are delaying adoption or under-investing in farm vegetation due to the uncertainty of how they can effectively access viable markets for their products. Leading farmers around Australia use a variety of approaches to make farm vegetation pay – all with different essential ingredients for their particular situations. This project found that many landholders have already successfully designed farms that produce a diverse range of products and services from native and exotic vegetation.

Research	The examples of enterprises included in the publication from this project are taken from across Australia. They include a diverse mix of landholders, farm vegetation, agro-climatic conditions, and marketing strategies – all successful in their own way. The selection of examples is deliberately diverse – in terms of the type of farm vegetation and also how it is used to support a viable enterprise. It includes examples with people that sell products such as timber from farm plantations and native forest, wattle seed, eucalyptus oil and native food. They also include people who sell the ‘service’ of native vegetation, that is, the farm vegetation directly contributes to the services that some farmers sell, such as biodiversity, eco-tourism and wool (produced from grazing native saltbush).
Outcomes	A summary of the main tips for making farm vegetation pay drawn from the eight examples is provided, which include: carefully assessing prospective markets,  appreciating the implications of long-term market trends,  understanding the costs and returns of enterprises, matching the enterprise to your capacity,  developing an appropriate marketing mix, and building rapport with potential buyers.
Publications	RIRDC publication 02/022, titled ‘Innovative use of farm vegetation: Australian experiences of making farm vegetation pay’ (42 pp.).


 
 

Project Title:	Landcare loan fund project development
RIRDC Project No.:	BCL-1A
Researcher:	Mr Derek Mortimer
Organisation:	Broken Catchment Landcare Network Inc.
Phone:	03 5761 1516
Fax:	03 5761 1628
Email:	C/- heather.mccauley@nre.vic.gov.au
Objectives	To create a cost sharing structure for farm forestry and landcare works and encourage landholder uptake of farm forestry by developing a low interest loan fund owned and operated by landcare groups by June 2000.
Background	A revolving loan fund can be described as a capital fund from which loans are made, usually for projects of public benefit. The Landcare Revolving Loan Fund is modelled on Community Loan Funds operating in the USA. These revolving funds provide low or no interest loans mainly for the provision of housing in low income areas of major cities. The capital base is assembled from donations, grants, and sponsorship, and below market rate loans from the socially responsible investment sector. Community Loan Funds are owned and operated by not for profit bodies of volunteers without specialist banking skills. Since they first began in 1983 Community Loan Funds have loaned millions of dollars and have a repayment history better than banks with less than 1/2 of 1% of loans defaulting.

Research	All legal, accounting, and administrative requirements necessary to establish and operate a landcare group based revolving loan fund were examined and implemented into a working fund. Fund raising strategies were tested. Research was limited to ‘setting up’ the revolving loan fund; the fund was required to provide its own labour and financial resources in order to show it could exist as an independent, viable structure.
Outcomes	The Landcare Revolving Loan Fund Limited is now established and in operation in the Broken Catchment , North east Victoria. A body of experience and documentation exists to assist interested landcare groups elsewhere. The RIRDC Final Report documents much of the experience and makes an assessment of results.
Implications	The project has observed that a landcare revolving loan fund can be created and managed to provide low cost loans for landcare works. Such Funds can offer donors, grantors and sponsors cost effective means of assistance to landcare groups. Revolving loan funds also develop a sense of pride and ownership amongst the landcare groups that operate and control.
Publications	RIRDC Final Report ‘The Landcare Revolving Loan Fund – a development report’


 

Project Title:	Emerging Markets for Environmental Services: implications and opportunities for resource management in Australia
RIRDC Project No.:	CIE 12A
Researcher:	Dr Martin van Bueren
Organisation:	Centre for International Economics GPO Box 2203 Canberra ACT 2601
Phone:	02 6248 6699
Fax:	02 6247 7484
Email:	mvbueren@thecie.com.au
Objectives	Produce a synopsis of the fundamental principles that underpin environmental markets. Critically review several ‘real life’ markets and prototype programs that have been established for trading environmental services and to identify the key ‘stepping stones’ which have enabled successful programs to evolve from the design phase through to implementation. Examine the design features of successfully functioning schemes and assess the extent to which these principles can be transferred to an Australian context.
Background	Over the past year or so, market-based instruments have attracted unprecedented attention in Australia as potential management tools for managing environmental problems. Credit trading is one mechanism that has been suggested as policy for managing dryland salinity, biodiversity, and natural habits in agricultural regions of Australia. However, the creation and trade of property rights in environmental services such as carbon sequestration, water filtration, and biodiversity protection is still in its infancy. The prospect of commercialising these services is exciting because it would overcome the current situation where public demand for environmental improvement fails to be communicated to private firms via a market mechanism. Furthermore, a system of marketable rights in these services could promote a cost-effective means of controlling environmental externalities associated with agriculture. While trading programs have been used extensively in controlling industrial emissions, the application of these schemes to the agricultural sector poses a number of challenges. Indeed, there is a distinct lack of documented information about the practicalities of overcoming these obstacles.
Research	Several countries are experimenting with various programs for commercialising environmental services. The United States is at the forefront in this endeavour, and the United Kingdom is beginning to investigate alternative mechanisms. This report documents the findings of a study trip that was made to these countries in June 2001.  The study examines three main environmental areas where trading programs and markets are beginning to emerge: water quality management, habitat and biodiversity protection, and the supply of carbon sequestration services. The approach taken for this study is to examine what common elements underpin each of these trading programs, and to establish what design variables are critical to developing a successful program.
Outcomes	Six main messages or lessons emerge from the study: · Enforceable quality targets are essential for market development. · Understand the market potential before commencing market design. · It is best to ‘start from scratch’ when designing a trading program. · Trading rules must be simple and unambiguous. · The tradeable rights must be underpinned by robust, defensible science. · Involve market participants in the design process.
Implications	If environmental markets are to be fostered in Australia, it will be necessary to develop an appropriate regulatory structure, and possibly make changes to existing natural resource management legislation. While isolated ‘trades’ may occur between different parties to address private externalities, a formal market for addressing public externalities requires a backbone of enforceable targets. In situations where the environmental gains from setting a target indisputably outweigh the costs of meeting the target, Australia should embrace mitigation banking and credit trading with cautious optimism. Once the economic potential for a market has been ‘proven’ in a geographic region, the next step should be to investigate whether there is adequate knowledge about the scientific processes to establish defensible, legal rights in the form of credits and permits. If these criteria are met, a third step should be the involvement of stakeholders in designing a workable trading program.
Publications	Van Beuren, M ( 2001) Emerging markets for Environmental Services- Implications and Opportunities for Resource Management RIRDC report R01/162 Van Beuren, Binning, Baker, Meharg, Kearns & Cork (2002) JVAP Research Update 3: Making Farm forestry Pay- Selling the environmental services of farm forestry. RIRDC report R02/018

Sustainable Management of Natural Resources
 

Project Title:	Plantation design and biodiversity conservation
RIRDC Project No.:	ANU-33A
Researcher:	Associate-Professor David Lindenmayer
Organisation:	Centre for Resource & Environmental Studies The Australian National University  Canberra, ACT., 0200
Phone:	02 6125 0654
Fax:	02 6125 0757
Email:	davidl@cres.anu.edu.au
Objectives	The development of scientifically-robust approaches and protocols to assess the value of remnant native vegetation in agricultural landscapes as habitat for a wide array of vertebrates. This will inform guidelines for assessing clearing applications for native vegetation in areas targeted for softwood plantation establishment. The development of a scientific basis to inform the establishment of new softwood plantations so they retain some values for biodiversity conservation.
Background	The primary goal of plantation forestry is the efficient production of large quantities of timber and pulp. However, there are also important opportunities for designing and managing plantations to enhance their value for biodiversity. Inferences from several studies are that changes in plantation management regimes can contribute to biodiversity conservation, sometimes significantly. One of the aims of this research was to examine ways to enhance biodiversity conservation in softwood plantations in south-eastern Australia.
Research	A large scale Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata) plantation exists in the Tumut region, approximately 100 km to the west of Canberra in southern New South Wales. The Tumut region has been the focus of a major set of integrated set of studies since 1995. Under the JVAP, a large scale landscape "natural experiment" - the - Nanangroe Study, was instigated in 1998. The Nanangroe Experiment focuses on a grazed woodland landscape near Jugiong in south-eastern New South Wales. It is examining a landscape that is already largely cleared of the original vegetation cover and which now supports only fragments of the native eucalypt woodland. The landscape matrix surrounding these woodland fragments is undergoing a major and rapid transition from one that is largely cleared and dedicated to grazing domestic livestock, to one dominated by extensive plantations of Radiata Pine trees. The Nanangroe Experiment will quantify the changes that occur in vertebrate fauna inhabiting woodland remnants when the surrounding landscape undergoes extensive change. The groups targeted for study are birds, terrestrial mammals, arboreal marsupials, reptiles and frogs.


 

Outcomes	The research work has highlighted some of the key strategies that can be adopted to promote conservation in plantation landscapes. These are:-  1. Retain native eucalypt forest or woodland remnants within plantation landscapes. Even small remnants of 1-3 ha were found to have important value as habitat for a wide range of species such as birds, mammals, reptiles and other taxa. Moreover, a landscape mosaic comprised of stands of plantation trees and remnant patches of native vegetation will support significant higher levels of native taxa than plantation landscapes that are monocultures.  2. Protect native vegetation along gully lines as these areas can be valuable dispersal routes for some species (e.g. small terrestrial native mammals). These areas are also often quarantined from plantation establishment for quality reasons and they might be useful places to target for native vegetation restoration efforts.  3. Take steps to control weed invasion problems (e.g. by pine "wildlings "and blackberry) within remnants of native vegetation within the plantation estate. These are best achieved in new plantations before the level of weed invasion becomes significant and weed control is still feasible.  A range of other management strategies are outlined in a Short Report published by RIRDC in 2000 (Lindenmayer, 2000) (see below).
Implications	The results of the JVAP-funded research show that biodiversity conservation can be integrated with plantation development, given that certain management protocols are embraced.
Publications	Numerous (> 50) scientific and other publications have come from the project. Key reference documents have been published by RIRDC including a Short Report (Lindenmayer, 2000) and the Final Report from the work (Lindenmayer, 2002). Lindenmayer, D.B.(2000). Guidelines for biodiversity conservation in new and existing softwood plantations. The Short Report No., 77, 1-4. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation Report. Lindenmayer, D.B (2002). Plantation design and biodiversity conservation. Final Report to Joint Venture Agroforestry Program. Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, Australia. Publication Number 02/019. 56pp.

This project was supported by the Natural Heritage Trust
 
 

Project Title:	Farm forestry: quantifying conservation and environmental service benefits
RIRDC Project No.:	CSW-32A
Researcher:	RJ Hobbs and R. Floyd
Organisation:	Murdoch University, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO Entomology
Phone:	08 9360 2191
Fax:	08 9360 7412
Email:	rhobbs@murdoch.edu.au
Objectives	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 particular 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 e.g. birds, mammals and insects, and minimize insect herbivore damage.
Background	Farm forestry is expanding rapidly in parts of southern Australia, and is seen by many as an opportunity to develop profitable timber products and at the same time address environmental problems. To date there has been little investigation of the possible biodiversity benefits associated with farm forestry. This report presents information derived from a detailed study of the vertebrate and invertebrate fauna found in Eucalyptus globulus plantations in southwestern Australia.
Research	The field program consisted of four sampling periods in Spring and Autumn during 1999-2001. Four study areas were established in the Albany – Mount Barker region of southwestern Australia, each of which consisted of a large block of native vegetation, a plantation adjacent to this, and another plantation isolated from the native vegetation. At each site, sampling was carried out within the native vegetation, at the edge of the plantation adjoining the remnant, at the centre of the plantation, and at the edge adjoining agricultural land. In the isolated plantation, samples were also taken at the edge and in the centre of the plantation, and a sample plot was also set up within the agricultural land. At each of these sample areas, vegetation structure and composition was assessed, and by trapping and/or observations, estimates of abundance were made for birds, bats, amphibians, lizards and mammals. At the same sites, invertebrate groups were sampled by a variety of means, including knockdown, light and malaise trapping.
Outcomes	Native vegetation has a heterogeneous tree cover and diverse shrub and ground cover layers with some fallen timber and leaf litter. Plantations have a more homogeneous and closed tree cover and an almost complete absence of shrub and ground cover layers. Agricultural land had no trees or shrubs, but a complete cover of introduced pasture with no litter. Ten species of amphibian and twelve species of reptile were recorded during the four surveys. Twice as many species (17) were recorded in the remnant vegetation than in any one of the plantation habitats (3-7 species) or the agricultural land (7 species). The number of species recorded in sites in the plantations and the agricultural land were very similar and there was no obvious difference between the number of species using the edge of plantations and the interior of plantations. Ninety nine species of bird were recorded during the four surveys. More species found in native vegetation (51) compared within plantations (31-36) and on agricultural land (30).Overall abundance of birds was considerably lower in plantations compared with native vegetation. Individual species showed a variety of patterns of abundance, with some species being most abundant at plantation edges and others showing no obvious habitat preferences. Numbers of observations of species considered at conservation risk were higher in plantations next to native vegetation compared with isolated plantations. Overall bird species richness was highly correlated with the mean Habitat Complexity Score estimated for each habitat type, which was highest in the remnant vegetation and lowest in the agricultural land. Eight species of bat were recorded during the four surveys. The number of passes that were recorded in each habitat was used as an index of the overall quality of each as foraging areas for bats. Over half of the passes were recorded in remnant vegetation, with a further third recorded in plantations abutting remnants. Thirteen species of ground-dwelling mammal were recorded during the four surveys; eight native and five introduced. Native mammals were largely restricted to remnant vegetation. The only native mammal to occur in all habitats was the Western Grey Kangaroo. However, most of the introduced species, including foxes, cats and rabbits, occurred in all habitats The abundance of moths collected by light trapping was similar in the remnant vegetation and plantations. The five most abundant species accounted for a greater fraction of the plantation samples than for the remnant sample. We identified 295 species in 26 families. The majority of species were found in remnant vegetation (244/295). Almost two thirds of the species found in plantations were also found in remnant vegetation (104/155). Beetles were much more abundant in light traps in plantations (3519 individuals) than in remnant vegetation light traps (1501 individuals). The domination of the samples by the five most abundant species was similar in the plantation and remnant samples. We identified 103 species of Coleoptera from light traps. Beetles were slightly more abundant in malaise traps in plantations than in remnant vegetation traps. Ants were more abundant in the remnant and agricultural habitat than in plantations. Braconid wasps were least abundant in plantation interior sites, while Ichneumonid wasps were similarly abundant in all habitats Overall, the invertebrate fauna of remnant vegetation was richer in species than the fauna of the plantation forests. Among the canopy-collected and malaise collected beetle samples there was evidence for greater faunal use of edge habitats. Species richness was greater in the plantation edge sites compared to plantation interior sites. We found little evidence in the invertebrate data that would indicate a consistent effect of adjacency to remnant forest on the fauna of plantations.
Implications	Based on the information we have on natural enemies, it appears there has not been a general increase in natural enemies in plantations compared to remnants such as would be necessary to control populations of abundant leaf feeders. Plantations as they are currently managed deliver a biodiversity benefit which represents a 15-25% improvement over agricultural land, based on habitat complexity scores (for vertebrates). While this represents a relatively small improvement, this may nevertheless constitute an important addition to the potential conservation value of the overall landscape. Further improvement of the habitat value of commercial plantations in southern Australia will involve tradeoffs with commercial considerations. The main result from this project is that the major limiting factor to realisation of greater biodiversity benefits appears to be the structural simplicity of farm forestry plantations. If managers wish to build in more structural complexity, an array of options is available including planting a greater mixture of tree and understorey species, and including habitat structures such as ground cover and logs.  Many predator and parasitoid insects were found in remnant and plantation sites. They could therefore contribute to the natural biocontrol of pest insects both in the plantation and the surrounding agriculture. The true potential of this natural service could not be determined in this study, and the possible benefits are undermined by the use of broad-spectrum insecticides in plantations, which kill beneficial and pest insects alike.
Publications	The material is to be published as papers, to be submitted to the Journal Agroforestry Systems


 

Project Title:	A manual for irrigated eucalypts, incorporating salinity impacts
RIRDC Project No.:	CSL-9A
Researcher:	Dr Glen Walker and Dr Jim Cox
Organisation:	CSIRO Land and Water Private Bag 2 GLEN OSMOND SA 5064
Phone:	08 83038743 or 08 8303 8510
Fax:	08 83038750 or 08 8303 8550
Email:	glen.walker@csiro.au or Jim.Cox@csiro.au
Objectives	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.
Background	The increase in land and water salinisation in southern Australia has led to an urgent need to devise and implement effective control measures. In particular, a large proportion of the land that was extensively cleared for irrigation is now underlain by shallow saline groundwater and experiencing reduced production. The establishment of tree plantations, especially Eucalyptus species, is increasing in popularity within salinity management plans as a way to control shallow saline groundwater. However recent findings that salts accumulate in the rootzone of plants grown over shallow saline groundwater has raised uncertainty as to the sustainability of these plantations.
Research	A hydrological modelling exercise using APSIM was undertaken to determine the conditions under which plantations in the Riverina are sustainable and economic. The ability of APSIM to predict tree growth was validated against data from a number of plantations including Kyabram and Timmering. In total, 4240 scenarios were modelled including two Eucalypt species, three soil textures, three groundwater salinities and four irrigation management scenarios. An economic model was used to assess the efficacy of plantations and consisted of modules in Microsoft Excel using Visual Basic for Applications. The routines were partly derived from the FARMTREE model but were heavily modified to suit the needs of this project and new data formats available.
Outcomes	For the great majority of the scenarios run, a negative net economic return resulted from the modelling at a 5% real discount rate. This was generally due to the high establishment costs for trees and irrigation, together with salt accumulation and poor growth with more saline water, or else high costs for fresh water. However, positive net benefits were found for a limited range of scenarios-using water of medium irrigation salinity at 2 or 5 dS/m, on light soils, with deep 4m watertable and "smart" irrigation. These achieved a near optimal balance with good wood production (from MAI’s in range 20 to 35 m3/ha) and high river salt saving (based on diversion of salt in irrigation water from river to trees). Heavy thinning is best among these scenarios, with light thinning slightly lower, and even no-thin versions still positive. Medium type soils are a little behind light soils, but still positive. The annuity results ranged from a top of $385/ha/yr (equivalent to an internal rate of return of 8%) to the worst of minus $1100/ha/yr. Not too much significance should be placed on the exact numbers output by the model, but rather on the broad magnitudes and relativities.
Implications	The economic viability of trees in commercial plantation developed over shallow saline watertables is limited.
Publications	Cox, J.W., Snow, V., Huth, N., Paydar, Z., Morris, J., Walker, G. and Loane, W. 2001. New investigations for sustainability of plantations on shallow saline watertables. 7th National PURSL Conference. Productive Use and Rehabilitation of Saline Land. 20-23 March 2001 Launceston Tasmania.


 

Project Title:	Measurement and Integration of Fauna Biodiversity Values Queensland Agroforestry Systems
RIRDC Project No.:	QDN-6A
Researcher:	Adrian Borsboom
Organisation:	Queensland Environmental Protection Agency
Phone:	07 3896 9300
Fax:	07 3896 9840
Email:	Adrian.borsboom@epa.qld.gov.au
Objectives	Broad objectives were to expand knowledge of the importance of farm forestry to biodiversity in south east Queensland and commence assessment of how biodiversity can be enhanced in plantations. Specific objectives were:  · Identify, quantify and compare vertebrate fauna within: - Various age, single species, eucalypt plantations; - Cleared, grazed, improved pasture; and  - Selectively logged, eucalypt forest; · Measure habitat attributes and relate to vertebrate fauna diversity  · Commence identification of economic, practical and ecologically sustainable farm forestry practices to enhance vertebrate diversity and nature conservation values; and · Provide research findings and management recommendations to agencies providing farm forestry decision support.
Background	In Queensland farm forestry is an emerging rural industry, especially in the south east where potentially 330,000 hectares is available for planting. A Queensland government farm forestry assistance scheme is encouraging farm forestry plantings on cleared farmland. Main hardwood species being planted in coastal south east Queensland is Gympie messmate (Eucalyptus cloeziana). Such plantings are seen as potentially contributing to biodiversity on the farm. Surveys of tree growers in Queensland and elsewhere confirm environmental benefits are an important reason for planting. However, currently there is little published information on the contribution of farm forestry to biodiversity.
Research	Four fauna surveys and associated habitat measurements were conducted in south east Queensland between June 1999 and January 2001 on 11 various age farm forestry plantings of Gympie messmate (four age classes), three reference sites on cleared, grazed, improved pasture and four reference sites in selectively logged eucalypt forest. The plantations age classes were 0.3 to 1.8 years, 2.1 to 3.8 years, 15 to 16.5 years and 38 to 40.5 years of age. All plantations had some connectivity to native forest. Birds, mammals (including bats), reptiles and amphibians were surveyed using a range of techniques.
Outcomes	205 vertebrate species were recorded with 175 species found in the Gympie messmate plantations. Species in the plantations represent a third of those known to occur in the regional provinces in which the survey sites were located. The average number of vertebrate species recorded on the 11 plantations survey sites was 53 (range 36-77). Plantations 38 to 40.5 years of age had the greatest number of vertebrate species with an average of 63.7, which was not significantly different from selectively logged eucalypt forest with 69.8 species. All plantation age classes had significantly more species than cleared, grazed, improved pasture, which averaged 27 species.  All vertebrate types were found in plantations with birds best represented with 100 species. Least represented were arboreal mammals (e.g. possums) with three species. Only two bird species and the introduced cane toad were recorded on all 11 plantation sites. Five introduced vertebrate species were recorded in plantations. Seven of the rodent species occurring in plantations are known major or minor pests in crops, orchards or food/grain storage facilities, and require management in plantations if they pose a threat to adjoining land. A further five species found in the plantations have the potential to cause damage or problems in eucalypt plantations. Four rare or threatened vertebrate species were found in the 38 to 40.5 year old plantations. The 38 to 40.5 year old plantations had significantly higher numbers of birds than cleared improved pasture and plantations 0.3 to 1.8 years of age. There were insufficient records for most vertebrate species to compare their abundance between plantation age classes.  Plantation habitat attributes that best correlated with the number of vertebrate species present were mainly related to vegetation structure. The best correlation (0.81) was with plant cover above 1.8 m. The 38 to 40.5 year old plantations, where the highest number of vertebrate species were recorded, were significantly more complex in habitat structure than the younger plantations. They had more logs and stumps, higher plant numbers in a number of height classes, more leaf litter, less grass species and less combined grass, sedge and herb species. There was no correlation between the number of vertebrate species and plantation area within the range of 1.5 to 10.5 hectares.
Implications	The planting on cleared lands of single species eucalypt plantations of 10 hectares or less with connectivity to native forest can significantly increase vertebrate species richness on at least a short to medium term basis, longer term if replanting is planned. The results of this study have significance to vertebrate diversity in eucalypt plantations beyond south east Queensland, especially how they are managed and sited. Older plantations with logs, stumps, good connectivity to native forest, a structurally complex shrubby understorey and a good leaf litter layer were found to provide the best plantation habitat for vertebrate diversity. Plantations in which pest species live may require understorey and ground cover management to reduce numbers where a threat is posed. Further investigation is required of the impact on vertebrate diversity in eucalypt plantations of timber harvesting and subsequent replanting, logging cycle length, grazing, fire and multiple-species plantings
Publications	Boorsboom, Wang, Lees, Mathieson &Hogan (2002) Measurement and integration of fauna biodiversity values in Queensland agroforestry systems RIRDC Report no R02/044

This project was supported by the Natural Heritage Trust
 
 

Project Title:	Seed & information support for farm forestry
RIRDC Project No.:	CSF-56A
Researcher:	Mr Tim Vercoe
Organisation:	CSIRO Forestry & Forest Products
Phone:	02 6281 8206
Fax:	02 6281 8266
Email:	tim.vercoe@csiro.au
Objectives	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.
Outcomes & Publications	This wide-ranging project is a due to conclude in September 2002. It has provided an umbrella for an advisory service as well as a host of smaller sub-projects. These following publications will be available from this project: · Report ‘Improved species climatic profiles’ (Jovanovich and Booth) (published).  · Report ‘Potential productivity assessment’ Booth et al. (in review).  · Booklet ‘Trees for saltland’ (Marcar, Crawford et al.) (final stages of preparation)  · The ‘Manual for establishing field trials and demonstration plantings for farm forestry’ (McLeod, Vercoe and Robins) (final stages of preparation) · A digest ‘Species selection for farm forestry: profiles of 25 promising species’ (Clarke, McLeod, Vercoe) (final stages of preparation) · A register of trial sites linked to Treedat (will be available online with live links to database) · Short report ‘Wood products from farm forestry – hardwood export chips’ (Clark) (in review · Report ‘Pulpwood quality of 13 eucalypt species with potential for farm forestry’ (Hicks and Clark) (published) · Report and Short Report ‘Wood products from farm forestry: Oriented Strandboard (OSB)’ (Freischmidt et al) (in review) · Report and Short Report ‘Wood products from farm forestry: Cement Board’ (Warden, Pereira and Reilly) (in review)

This project was supported by AFFA
 
 

Project Title:	Characterisation of tree root morphology in alley systems
RIRDC Project No.:	DAW-93A
Researcher:	Dr. Robert A. Sudmeyer
Organisation:	Western Australian Department of Agriculture
Phone:	08 9083 1129
Fax:	08 9083 1100
Email:	rsudmeyer@agric.wa.gov.au
Objectives	To improve pasture and crop growth in alley and windbreak systems by developing commercially sound competition management strategies based on an understanding of: ·       tree root morphology for a number of tree species and  ·       soil type combinations and how root morphology is affected by root pruning.
Background	It is widely recommended that competition between trees and crops can be reduced by selecting tree species that have limited lateral root extension and/or are deeper rooted than crops, and by cutting (pruning) the tree roots to reduce their density under the crop. However, little is known about the extent and distribution of the roots commonly planted tree species in adjacent agricultural land. One of the key recommendations in RIRDC Research Paper No 97/29 was the need for experimental and modelling research to characterise the tree crop interface and use these data as a predictive tool to assess various agroforestry designs.
Research	At seven sites the extent and distribution of Eucalyptus globulus, Pinus pinaster and Pinus radiata roots in the soil of agricultural land adjacent to tree lines was measured. These sites included both deep sand and duplex soil types and sites with and without root pruned trees. Soil water content and soil chemical characteristics were determined at various distances from the trees.
Outcomes	The lateral extent of tree roots ranged from 18 to 30 m, and was strongly correlated to the height of the trees (H) and was between 1.5 and 2 H for all three species. The density of roots in the soil declined logarithmically with distance from the trees for all three species. At 0.5 H, the density of roots in the top 1.4 m of the soil profile was between 404 and 487 roots/m2 for E. globulus, 909 and 1110 roots/m2 for P. radiata and 1409 and 2691 roots/m2 for P. pinaster. However, because of the small number and the age structure of the trees sampled, it is not possible to separate age and species as factors in determining root density. Root density was generally greatest in the top 0.5 m of the soil profile and decreased with depth, this decrease was relatively gradual in the deep sands, but abrupt in clay subsoils. The dry weight of roots in the top metre of soil between 0.5 and 2.0 ranged between 4.2 t/km of tree line for 6 year old E. globulus to 42 t/km of tree linefor 20 year old P. pinaster. Two to four years after the trees had been root pruned, both the extent, density and vertical distribution of roots was similar for pruned and unpruned trees. Soil water content was generally less near the trees, and the soil water content of the top 0.5 m of the soil profile was negatively correlated to root density. Soil chemistry was generally similar inside and outside the area occupied by tree roots. However the potassium content and electrical conductivity of the soil under the trees was greater than at 2 H.
Implications	This study suggests that P. pinaster, P. radiata and E. globulus have similar potential to compete with crops given the lateral extent of their roots is similar, and all three have the greatest root density within 0.5 m of the soil surface where crop and pasture roots are concentrated. Root pruning trees will initially reduce the number of roots in the topsoil on all soil types. However, the density of tree roots in the top 0.5 m is rapidly re-established following root pruning. Therefore, it is likely that in the long term root pruning will only remain effective on duplex soils where all of the lateral roots can be severed, and that subsequent root pruning is done biannually. On deeper soils the numerous roots present below the depth of pruning will continue to grow and ramify back up though the soil profile reducing the long-term effectiveness of root pruning.
Publications	Sudmeyer, R. 2002. Tree root morphology in alley systems RIRDC pub no R02/24


 
 

Project Title:	Biomass for alcohol fuels- status of technology and cost/ benefit analysis
RIRDC Project No.:	EPL-2A
Researcher:	Mr Col Stucley
Organisation:	Enecon
Phone:	03 9817 6255
Fax:	03 9817 6455
Email:	cstucley@enecon.com.au
Objectives	A better understanding of the opportunity presented by the renewable transport fuels ethanol and methanol, as a major new commercial driver for tree planting. The principle deliverable will be a report covering the current status and future directions of biomass to ethanol and methanol, and the cost/ benefit for farm forestry to provide feedstock for manufacture of these fuels/ chemicals and the current and future outlooks for markets for these alcohols.
Background	Large scale tree planting can deliver environmental benefits such as reduction in dryland salinity. Commercial products will provide major incentives for tree planting when environmental benefits are long term, off-farm or hard to quantify. In dryland areas where conventional tree plantations are not economic there is a need to identify and foster new products and renewable liquid fuels are seen as a major potential product
Research	This project has included an overseas study trip and a desk-top study of technology for alcohol fuel manufacture from biomass. Costs for these fuels are estimated for plants built now or in 15 years. Comparisons are made with conventional fuel prices and environmental and other benefits attributable to biomass alcohol fuels are considered.


 
 
 
 

Outcomes	Alcohol fuels are currently more expensive to manufacture than petrol, and this is unlikely to change in the next 15 years. However the multiple environmental benefits of such alcohol fuels may close the cost gap between them and petrol and justify their large scale use.
Implications	Further work is needed to identify areas where the environmental benefits of alcohol fuels from woody biomass are maximised. This study indicates that such work is justified and may result in significant discrete opportunities for large scale tree planting.
Publications	Draft report complete. Final report expected for publication by RIRDC second half of 2002.


 
 

Project Title:	Optimising nutrition for productivity and sustainability of farm forestry systems: Pasture legumes under shade
RIRDC Project No.:	UJC-6A
Researcher:	Dr Bob Congdon
Organisation:	School of Tropical Biology James Cook University Townsville, Qld 4811
Phone:	07 4781 4731
Fax:	07 4725 1570
Email:	robert.congdon@jcu.edu.au
Objectives	The major thrust of the research will be 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).
Background	Significant acceptance of tree plantation-pasture systems has been impeded by the belief that productive pasture cannot be maintained under tree canopies. The benefits of raising livestock in conjunction with tree plantations include increased and diversified income, better use of land resources, soil stabilisation, and the potential for higher plantation crop yield through better weed control, nutrient cycling and nitrogen accretion. Our research will identify a suite of pasture legumes that can be used to improve pasture quality in agroforestry systems under differing rainfall regimes. Nitrogen fixed by these legumes is also likely to benefit tree growth.
Research	A total of 35 species and cultivars of tropical pasture legumes were tested for shade tolerance beneath four levels of shade under shadehouse conditions. Growth and performance of 15 species/cultivars were examined under Khaya senegalensis and Eucalyptus pellita / mixed rainforest species plantations.
Outcomes	A range of potentially useful, shade tolerant legume species suited to both the wet and the seasonally dry tropics were identified. Some of the most promising species include D. intortum, C. mucunoides, A. pintoi, D. ovalifolium, D. canum, C. acutifolium, P. phaseoloides, D. heterophyllum, C. pubescens, D. uncinatum and C. macrocarpum (wet tropical species). Clitoria ternatea, A. stenosperma, M. lathyroides, M. atropurpureum and C. brasilianum were the most successful of the seasonally dry tropical species.
Implications	This study has identified 16 species of pasture legume that show promise for use under trees in farm forestry situations. However many of the species identified as shade tolerant or being relatively productive under shaded conditions (see Outcomes) have a climbing/twining habit that can cause concern in tree plantations, particularly in respect to potential smothering of small trees. When the climbing species are removed the remaining species recommended for the wet tropics are D. intortum, A. pintoi, D. ovalifolium, D. canum, D. heterophyllum and D. uncinatum, while A. stenosperma shows potential for the seasonally dry tropics. However climbing species may still potentially be used beneath older plantations or where a higher level of pasture management is acceptable in order to help prevent smothering of trees through controlling the frequency and intensity of grazing. Further research should examine the possibility of controlling climbing legumes in tree plantations through grazing management in order to broaden the range of legume species available for use. Research is also required in order to examine the longer-term persistence and productivity of the species identified in this study as tree plantations age and shade levels increase. Compatibility with shade tolerant grasses is an important aspect of pasture production beneath tree plantations, which has seen relatively little research and will have an important effect upon the persistence and productivity of both the grass and legume components of the pasture.
Publications	Addison, H., Congdon, R., Gardiner, C. & Holtum, J. 2000 Legumes for forestry systems. In Snell A. & Vize S. (Eds) AFG2000 Proceedings of the Biennial Conference of the Australian Forest Growers, Cairns, September 2000, p. 231-234. Australian Forest Growers, Kingston, ACT. Addison, H. and Congdon, R., 2001 Legumes for agroforestry systems Proceedings of the 10th Australian Agronomy Conference, Hobart, 28th January – 1st February


 
 

Project Title:	Salt Tolerant Hybrid Eucalypts
RIRDC Project No.:	UMU 19A
Researcher:	Prof Jen McComb
Organisation:	Murdoch University
Phone:	08 9 360 2336
Fax:	08 9 360 6303
Email:	jmccomb@central.murdoch.edu.au
Objective	The aim was to produce salt tolerant trees with good pulp quality.
Background	To extend the range of plants that can be grown on saline land and give a direct financial return, hybrids were produced between Eucalyptus camaldulensis lines selected for salt tolerance and E globulus selected for high quality wood fibre.
Research	Crosses between E. camaldulensis and E. globulus produced some hybrids that gave excellent growth and form. The hybrid flowers were fertile, and flowers and fruits were intermediate in size and shape between the two parents. Hybrids that survived a glasshouse salt screening were cloned. Field trials were set up in 1995 at Mt Barker, Beverley and Pinjarra in W.A. and in 1997 at Narrikup, Boyup Brook in W.A., Coleambally in NSW and Cressy in Tasmania. The Pinjarra and Coleambally sites were non-saline, but all other sites were slightly to moderately saline with areas of the Mt Barker site being highly saline. The survival of E. camaldulensis was high on all sites. The hybrids had higher survival than E. globulus. The height of the hybrids was usually equal to, or better than, the surviving E. globulus. Timber from the hybrids has potential for value added purposes. Wood from 5-year old trees grown under non-saline conditions at Pinjarra had medium density and was suitable for sawlogs.
Outcomes	Some 14 superior lines of E. camaldulensis x globulus are held in vitro by Plant Biotechnologies Tasmania. Selection has been based on salt-waterlogging tolerance in the glasshouse, and survival and growth in the field on saline sites for up to 6 years.
Implications	E. camaldulensis x globulus hybrids might be used for wood production on saline sites, and to extend tree plantations for pulp and sawlog production into areas unsuitable for E. globulus.
Publications	Oddie RLA and McComb JA (1998) Stigma receptivity in Eucalyptus , camaldulensis Dehnh. Silvae Genetica 47:142-146. Meddings RLA, McComb JA and Bell DT (2001) The salt-waterlogging tolerance of Eucalyptus camaldulensis x globulus hybrids. Aust. J. Exp. Agric. 41:787-92  McComb, J.A., Oddie, R.L.A., Chapman, S.R., Calver, M.C., Rasmussen, G.F.,  Hingston, T.L. and DeLittle D.W.(2000) Salt tolerant hybrid eucalypts for wood fibre production. Symposium on Hybrid Breeding and Genetics (Noosa Qld April 9-14 2000). 1-6. Niknam, S.R. and McComb. J.A. (2000). Salt tolerance screening of selected Australian woody species- a review. For. Ecol Manag. 139: 1-19. (Review preparation funded by ForBio, XylanovA project).

Optimised productivity of crops and pastures
 

Project Title:	Using windbreaks to protect soil, crops and livestock and Integrating agroforestry into low rainfall farming systems
RIRDC Project No.:	CSL-10A and SAR-19A
Researcher:	Dr Helen Cleugh and Mr. Mike Bennell
Organisation:	CSIRO Land and Water (Cleugh) Natural Resource Centre, Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, SA (Bennell)
Phone:	02 6246 5574 (Cleugh) & 08 8372 0188 (Bennell)
Fax:	02 6246 5560 (Cleugh) & 08 8372 0199 (Bennell)
Email:	Helen.Cleugh@csiro.au & Bennell.Mike@saugov.sa.gov.au
Objectives	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. Provide quantitative information on the impacts of severe wind events on dry land crops in southern Australia. 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.
Background	A key finding from the National Windbreaks Program (NWP) was that wind damage was likely to play an important role in the response of crop yields to wind shelter and that benefits beyond improved microclimatic conditions would be needed to make planting and maintaining tree windbreaks profitable. As the NWP’s primary focus was the effect of wind shelter on microclimate and thence agricultural productivity, a follow-up study was needed to investigate the extent to which protection from damaging winds can modify productivity. That was the objective of the research described in here.
Research	Unlike windbreak effects on the microclimate, wind damage events occur intermittently and as such are characterised as low frequency - high magnitude events and must be analysed in terms of probabilities of occurrence. We therefore adopted the following approach to quantify the risk of wind damage to crops and agricultural productivity: 1. Identification of the major damage mechanisms for agriculture in South Australia (SA). 2. Use numerical modeling, experiments (wind tunnel simulation, artificial enclosures) and field observations to develop quantitative relationships between these damage mechanisms and crop yield.  3. Quantify the nature of the wind climate of SA and the potential for reducing the risk of wind damage by using windbreaks. 4. Develop a simulation tool to determine the economic risk of wind damage, and the costs and benefits of various management strategies such as windbreaks or reduced tillage options to ameliorate this risk.
Outcomes	The main forms of damage limiting productivity are: sandblasting; flower abortion; head loss in mature barley crops and direct physical crop damage. The key findings for each of these are as follows: Sandblasting The effect of sandblasting on yield in lupins was quantified by observing the relationship between total sand flux, plant damage and yield in an experimental wind tunnel. The largest sand fluxes caused stem scoring and extreme macro damage to all mature and immature leaves. The subsequent recovery from physical damage incurred a yield penalty, ranging from negligible yield reductions (1%) for moderate sand fluxes (71 kg m-1) to sizeable losses (approximately 18%) for larger sand fluxes (exceeding 250 kg m-1). These yield reductions were conclusively shown to be due to damage caused by impaction of soil particles, not the effects of wind alone or the reduced plant density arising from plant death following the sandblasting event.  Although the risk of sandblasting will be moderated by soil type, rainfall and paddock management, winds capable of producing soil fluxes in excess of 150 kg m-1 are likely to occur at least once every growing season for all regions within South Australia.  Flower abortion in hot, northerly wind conditions The effect of hot (30oC), dry (relative humidity from 20% - 30%) winds on the reproductive organs of faba bean plants were quantified using a wind tunnel. Up to and including anthesis, the level of flower abortion increased with increasing wind speed – reaching a maximum level about 30% of that in the control plants at anthesis. Although the mechanism(s) could not be definitively deduced, the results support earlier studies indicating that both moisture stress and temperature play a role in flower abortion. Head loss in barley Yield reductions due to the loss of barley heads under windy and dry conditions at maturity is a problem in those regions such as the Yorke Peninsula, SA, where barley is a high value product for the brewing industry. Severe head loss events with yield reductions averaging 15% were found in 4 years out of the 7 for which data were available for the Yorke Peninsula. Such moderate – severe damage events were found to have a probability of occurring at least once in the harvest season (November – January, inclusive). This risk can be managed either by windrowing the crop or using windbreaks to reduce wind speeds. Using the available data, we showed that for a paddock sheltered by a medium porosity windbreak, the incidence of moderate to severe head loss events could be reduced by 35% across the whole paddock. Direct damage In southern Australia, the crops vulnerable to leaf tearing and stripping were identified as being pulses, especially lupins and faba beans. Wind tunnel experiments on pot-grown faba bean plants showed that minor levels of wind damage resulted from the maximum treatment of an 8h exposure to wind at 14 m s-1 and this had no significant effect on final yields.  Using harvest surveys to quantify the impact of shelter on mico-climate and yield Cereals showed small yield gains in the sheltered areas of 5.2% and 3.7% for wheat and barley, respectively. These gains were offset by competition losses, resulting in a small net gain for wheat and a small net loss for barley. A climate analysis suggests that the yield response of cereals is greater in drier, windier years. Faba bean shows a strong consistent response to wind shelter with a net yield increase of 18.7% (some of this response may be due to protection from flower abortion). The lupin crops had highly varying results, ranging from no response to 11.5% gain in the sheltered zone. These results confirm those found in the National Windbreaks Program. A scenario analysis tool that integrates these research results within a farm management framework, PADDOCK, was developed and employed to capture the impact of infrequent severe damaging events on all the constituent crops. PADDOCK runs through a climate record of up to 25 years, simulating all crop yields each year and thus the productivity for a particular management scenario and windbreak system.  The experimental results described above were used to derive damage – yield relationships for use in PADDOCK, while a sand flux model (WEAM) was modified to predict the sand flux associated with a given wind speed, cover and soil moisture content. WEAM was verified using the wind tunnel and opportunistic data. PADDOCK was run firstly to investigate the risk of sandblasting events for the agricultural regions of SA. For a particular soil and region the number of sandblasting events doubled, and the magnitude of flux increased under lupins compared to cereals. This was mainly due to the greater window of vulnerability under lupins, which are slow to establish above ground cover. Notwithstanding the greater protection provided by cereals, under conventional tillage methods both cereals and lupins will lead to sandblasting events. For the Northern Adelaide and Fleurieu regions these have a probability of occurring roughly every season although they may not reach an intensity sufficient to cause crop loss. The frequency of the large magnitude events is also large in lupins – especially for the Fleurieu and Northern Adelaide regions where 43% of all sandblasting events simulated under a lupin crop had sand fluxes exceeding 150 kg m-1 – the threshold found to be associated with yield reductions. Wheat is much more resilient - sand fluxes in excess of 400 kg m-1 are needed to significantly damage an establishing wheat crop.  Secondly, we used PADDOCK to ask the question "are windbreaks an appropriate management tool to reduce the risk of wind damage?" and "what are the economic impacts of using this management tool?"  Windbreaks in dryland farming systems of southern Australia were found to be most appropriate in areas of significant risk of sandblasting – i.e. where there is lower annual rainfall, erodible soils and where vulnerable crops such as lupins form an important component of the crop rotations. While this risk can be managed by conservation tillage practices, in its absence or where other management practices may lead to low cover levels, our simulations indicate that windbreaks can provide positive economic returns which are improved even further by moving from a single windbreak along a paddock boundary to multiple parallel belts (i.e. alley farming). In areas where cereal crops are grown in rotation with a pasture rather than a legume phase, such as in the northern Eyre Peninsula and Murraylands in the 250 – 400 mm rainfall zone, the net yield gains from windbreaks will be small and windbreaks would be best considered as a risk management strategy to manage infrequent severe wind events causing soil erosion, sandblasting, head loss and flower abortion.