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The potential for one of Australia’s most valuable native plants to combat land degradation and provide an alternative source of income to landholders has been detailed in a landmark new publication titled AcaciaSearch from the Joint Venture Agroforestry Program (JVAP).
Launched by eminent forestry researcher John Bartle, AcaciaSearch identifies, evaluates and provides detailed information for Acacia species considered prospective as new woody crop plants in the agricultural region of southern Australia (within the 250–650 mm rainfall zone).
Mr Bartle said the impetus for the study is the need to undertake large-scale commercial plantings with perennial plants as a treatment for salinity control in these regions.
“Emphasis is given to fast growing species with potential for producing large amounts of wood biomass that may find uses as solid and reconstituted wood products and for bioenergy, and which may possess commercially attractive by-products such as extractives (especially tannin and gum) and fodder.
“There is currently no large-scale commercial use of Acacia within the southern Australian agricultural zone despite the fact that acacia is the largest plant group in the area. “
Mr Bartle said Acacia is a diverse and enormous genus with almost 1000 species in Australia.
“This represents a vast resource for economic, environmental and social utilisation, but to date their major usage has been overseas.”
“Many Australian Acacias produce good quantities of wood biomass and display a range of variation in growth form, growth rate, longevity and coppicing/suckering ability.
“They are adapted to a wide range of soil types and climates, including drought- and frost-prone areas.
“Acacia species have hard-coated and relatively large seeds (which are amenable to direct-sowing techniques), have the ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, are usually easy to germinate and grow, and generally show good survival and rapid growth rates under cultivation.
“These favourable attributes provide the encouragement for considering Acacia species for development as new woody crop plants for southern Australia.”
Thirty five species have been identified as having some crop potential for the southern Australian agricultural zone; however, because these species vary considerably they have been subjectively ranked to indicate how well each might be expected to perform as crop plants capable of delivering anticipated end products.
Of the 35 prospective species, 10 occur in Western Australia, 19 in South Australia, 12 in Victoria and 18 in New South Wales.
Although woody crops could take many forms there are three commercial crop types likely to be suitable for salinity control in southern Australian agricultural systems. These three types can be briefly defined as follows:
ENDS
Media inquiries
John Bartle 0408 907 762
RIRDC Martin Field (02) 6272 4735 or 0418 430 760
 
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