Improving the productivity of saline discharge areas: an assessment of the potential use of saltbush in the Murray-Darling Basin

Abstract

Results of field trials testing the growth of Atriplex species on saline soils in Western Australia have been used with the PLANTGRO model to predict the success of 6 Atriplex species on 6 salinised soil types at 6 localities in the Murray-Darling Basin. The model's predictions that the productivity of all species would be severely limited on cracking clay soils due to poor aeration were tested by examining data from field trials. It was concluded that saltbush production will be very poor on heavy clay soils. Field trial data suggest that these limitations will be exacerbated by the interaction of aeration and soil salinity factors at mean salinities (ECe) >10 dS/m, and the planting of Atriplex on these sites is not recommended. Better results are expected on some duplex and gradational soils where larger sand fractions in the A horizon improve soil aeration characteristics. However, the model predicts that productivity will, at best, be low to moderate at all the Murray-Darling Basin sites examined.