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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 45(11)

The role of plants and plant-based research and development in managing dryland salinity in Australia

A. M. Ridley A B D and D. J. Pannell A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Co-operative Research Centre for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

B Primary Industries Research Victoria, RMB 1145, Rutherglen, Vic 3685, Australia.

C School of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: anna.ridley@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45(11) 1341-1355 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04153
Submitted: 30 July 2004  Accepted: 24 January 2005   Published: 16 December 2005

Abstract

The roles of plant-based systems and plant-based research and development for management of dryland salinity in southern Australia vary over a range of biophysical and socio-economic conditions, and differ according to the resources at risk (protection of water resources, biodiversity, infrastructure, dispersed assets such as agricultural land, and salt-affected land). Recommended responses are sensitive to a range of biophysical and socio-economic conditions. Extension and incentives to promote currently available perennials or salt-tolerant plants are only appropriate as the main policy response in a minority of cases. Regulation or permits to limit planting of perennials can be justified in certain areas of high-water-yielding catchments. For the majority of agricultural land that is at risk or is contributing to dryland salinity, the most logical policy response is to invest in development to improve salinity management technologies, including research and development into new plant-based systems. Situations where plant-based R&D for profitable farming systems is the best option include: (i) to reduce salinity impacts on water resources where groundwater systems are responsive and the dependence on fresh runoff for consumptive use is low; (ii) to protect infrastructure and biodiversity where there is relatively high responsiveness of groundwater and the urgency of response is low; (iii) to protect dispersed assets (e.g. agricultural land, most remnant vegetation on farms, flood risk mitigation) where profitable perennial plant options are lacking; and (iv) for land that is already salt affected.

Additional keywords: dryland salinity, plants, policy, research and development.


Acknowledgments

This paper would not have been possible without the numerous discussions and collaboration over many years with other colleagues, both within the CRC for Plant-Based Management of Dryland Salinity and outside it. The people who have contributed most are Ted Lefroy and Mike Ewing. Others who have had active input are David Bennett, Kim Lowe, John Bartle, Neil Barr, Kevin Goss, Malcolm McCaskill, Phil Dyson and 2 anonymous referees.


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