All in Victoria

Elucidating relationships between disturbance and invasion in riparian zones

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:33:38 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Defeating the Weed Menace R&D Program

Program Theme:

Weed management strategies that incorporate an understanding of landscape scale ecological processes

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

VPI15

Host Organisation:

Victorian Department of Primary Industries

Researchers:

Dr Fiona Ede

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Landscape Management

Weeds

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

Developing new integrated weed management strategies that incorporate an understanding of landscape scale ecological processes

Project Information

Summary:

This project sought to develop improved riparian weed management strategies by analysing the linkages between disturbance from flood events and both weed invasion and tree recruitment in riparian areas. Analysis of an existing dataset containing assessments of vegetation variables from 23 rivers across Victoria resulted in the development of predictive models relating the number of eucalypt and acacia seedlings at a site to the number of parent trees, the amount of bare ground, the catchment management region and the cover of native sedges (eucalypt seedlings only).

Outcomes:

The cover of exotic life forms and number of exotic taxa did not affect tree seedling numbers, indicating that weeds did not inhibit tree recruitment at the landscape scale in the sites studied. A new dataset containing hydrological variables for the rivers under study was compiled and initial regression of these variables against the vegetation variables was undertaken. The cover of various exotic life forms was not affected by flood frequency or the total, average or longest duration of floods, while the total cover of weeds decreased as the number of flood events increased. Sites with more frequent and longer duration floods had a higher proportion of native to exotic taxa. The number of days that the riparian area was under water was negatively related to the number of eucalypt and acacia seedlings found at a site. Riparian weed management guidelines have been developed, in association with on-ground managers, which provide information and advice which can be incorporated into weed management programs seeking to enhance the condition of riparian areas.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Riparian zones are highly dynamic landscape components, forming the interface between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Flood events are integral to the functioning of riparian zones, by periodically redistributing energy and materials. This results in heterogenous ecosystems providing numerous microsites in which different plants can establish. In both Australia and overseas it has been found that a wide range of native and exotic species exploit these microsites, making riparian zones some of the most biodiverse communities in the landscape.

This, however, results in sites with multiple weed species, increasing the complexity of weed management. This is further compounded by the limitations on chemical control methods which can be applied near waterways, while the presence of some level of native vegetation in the riparian zone also limits control options. This is particularly important in sites where the vegetation community depends on natural regeneration processes as some weed control strategies can destroy entire cohorts of young native plants.

Aims:

By elucidating the relationships between the disturbance caused by flooding and weed invasion, and tree recruitment, this project will be able to provide land-managers with guidelines so their weed management activities can optimise tree recruitment and the creation of these bare areas through flooding, it is highly probable that the period immediately after a flood event is critical to tree seeding establishment. Understanding the dynamics of weed invasion and establishment during this recruitment window will allow the development of appropriate weed management strategies. It is possible that these strategies may differ, not only depending on the mix of weeds present, but as a consequence of river type.

The objectives of this project are to develop improved riparian weed management strategies for land managers, incorporating analysis of the linkages between:

Disturbance from flood events and weed invasion in riparian zones;
Disturbance from flood events and the recruitment of native tree species.

The outputs from this project are threefold:

Riparian weed management guidelines;
Weed manager training;
Scientific paper.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Victoria

Boneseed Rust: A highly promising candidate for biological control

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:28:35 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Defeating the Weed Menace R&D Program

Program Theme:

Identifying biocontrol agents for priority weed species

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CEN24

Host Organisation:

CSIRO Entomology

Researchers:

Dr Louise Morin

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Weeds

Keywords:

Weeds

weed

biocontrol

boneseed rust

Project Information

Summary:

This project investigated the use of Endophyllum osteospermi (a systemic rust fungus) in the biological control of boneseed (Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera). This systemic South African rust fungus has been found to reduce growth and the reproduction of plants by causing extensive deformation of infected branches (witches’ broom).

Boneseed is a Weed of National Significance, which occurs mainly in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Outcomes:

This project has generated new approaches to the establishment and detection of boneseed rust that will play important roles in future development of biological control agents for boneseed. Through the adaptive approach to the research and appropriate applications to AQIS, the Principal investigator has also achieved innovative new approaches to tge use of traditional 3-tiered host specifity esting for biocontrol agents. Each of these new aspects of knowledge may have applications beyond the specific case under study - rust fungus control of boneseed.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

This project is building on research conducted in South Africa in the mid-1990s.

Aims:

This project aims to complete the host-specificity testing phase of the boneseed rust to provide the necessary data to finalise the risk assessment for this rust and build a strong case to support its release in Australia. This will be achieved by:

Carrying out inoculations of the six non-target plant species on which penetration occurred in initial host-specificity tests, and microscopically examining samples taken 4 weeks after inoculation to determine if the rust has successfully colonised plant tissue. (Modified objective proposed to L&W Australia in March 2007 and accepted on 7 June 2007)
Preparing and submitting an application to release the rust to the regulatory authorities.
Developing a molecular-based tool to enable detection of the rust in symptomless plants after release since it can takes up to 2-3 years for visible disease symptoms to develop.
Negotiating with AQIS to determine an acceptable approach to release the rust from the quarantine facility.

Location

State & NRM Region:

South Australia

Victoria

Tasmania

A 'Ready Reckoner' to Determine Under What Circumstances an Evaporation Reduction System Would be Economical

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:04:13 +0000

The Goulburn Broken region faces significant challenges and opportunities. Issues such as free-trade agreements, climate change, water reform, and technological developments will have a significant influence on the future.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

USQ11

Host Organisation:

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority

Researchers:

Eric Schmidt

Subjects

Subjects:

Data and Information

Landscape Management

Primary Industries

Irrigation

Keywords:

Strategic Planning

Innovation

social issues

Project Information

Outcomes:

A wide cross section of the community and stakeholder organisations contributed their knowledge and ideas to the exploration of the future of irrigation in the region.

The community and organisational stakeholders articulated their aspirations for the future of the region, the challenges and opportunities that the future may present, and strategies to build the region’s capability to manage those potential opportunities and challenges.

The project team collaborated with stakeholder groups to identify regional and agency-specific strategies for the future of the region, embed these findings in their strategic plans, and to develop practical tools to support the adoption of these findings.

The project has demonstrated that scenario planning can be used by communities for regional planning. It has documented a regional scenario planning methodology which can now be used by others, and has supported the use of the methodology in other regions.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

This project evolved from the scoping study undertaken by Peter Watts (FSA1), which looked at Reduction of Evaporation from Farm Dams. One area recommended for further work was the development of a simple computer model (a ready reckoner) which would allow site-specific assessment of evaporation mitigation technologies.

Aims:

Facilitate key stakeholders to develop a shared vision for the future of irrigation in the Goulburn Broken Region over the next 30 years, and to identify scenarios of major constraints and opportunities and of regional response options.
Understand the social, economic and environmental consequences of various scenarios through impact assessment that integrates the best available knowledge.
Facilitate key stakeholders to build consensus on preferred regional options for future irrigation, and recommend regional follow-up actions.
Develop a methodology that can be applied elsewhere in Australia for sustainable irrigation planning at a catchment scale.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Victoria

Locations:

Goulburne-Broken Catchment

Tri-State Project - Impact of Salinity on Horticulture in the Lower Murray

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:40:13 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

DEP15

Host Organisation:

Department of Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation S.A.

Researchers:

Dr Gerrit Schrale

Subjects

Subjects:

Water (General)

Catchment Management

Field Crops and Horticulture

Irrigation

Salinity

Soils

Keywords:

aquatic nutrients

crops

Project Information

Summary:

The project, started in November 2003 and to finish in early 2007, is split into two stages and deliverables are spread over agreed milestones.

Stage 1: Specific tasks and main deliverables for Stage 1 are:

A detailed literature review of the salinity relationships for the commonly grown crops (grape, citrus, stone fruit, melon and vegetables) in the Lower Murray region;
Identify the knowledge gap in salinity relationships;
Explore the salinity implications of the leaching efficiency and its variance and prepare a focussed plan for field studies; and
Develop a framework for the economic assessment of the salinity hazard.

Stage 2: As a follow up of stage 1, the original project submission listed the following three main activities for stage 2:

Use chloride as a natural tracer in the soil profiles at suitable field sites (where the season’s irrigation practices have been recorded) to estimate leaching efficiency and its variance;
Use the models ‘VineLOGIC’ and ‘Swagman’ (for Citrus) to simulate salinity inputs versus outputs on selected vineyards and orchards; and
Assess the implications of the project outcomes in relation to the salinity and drainage management strategies.

The original submission identified that stage 1 findings may lead to revision of the stage 2 field investigations. It is now proposed that the stage 2 investigations also include field experimentation for measuring and subsequent modelling of the soil-water-plant-atmosphere transport processes.

An economic analysis was carried out on this project, looking at the following benefits: productivity and profitability; environmental; and social. Download economic analysis.

Outcomes:

The project is substantially improving our understanding of leaching efficiency and the amount of water required as a leaching fraction. The results of the project will inform the new NPSI project Root zone water, salinity and nutrient management under precision irrigation (SRD8).

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Irrigated horticulture in the Lower Murray (Riverland-Sunraysia) region contributes a ‘gate-value’ of about $ 2.5 billion a year to the national economy. As a consequence of improved irrigation practices over the years, there is a risk emerging of a salinity build-up in the root zone, threatening the sustainability of this region. During the past two decades the water use efficiency (WUE) of irrigated horticulture in this region has gradually increased from about 50 to 80% as a consequence of improved irrigation systems and management. With the objective to manage the irrigation impact on the river water quality and health of the floodplains, the River Murray Catchment Water Management Board introduced an 85% target of WUE in the current Water Allocation Plan.

In the Lower Murray Region the irrigation water salinity is typically about 0.4 dS m-1 and with 15% leaching the average salinity (ECe) in the root zone should be around 0.6 dS m-1. However field surveys indicate that the root zone salinity is often greater than 1.3 dS m-1 with considerable variance. In order to understand and manage this salinity hazard, a ‘Tri-State Salinity’ syndicate of Government agencies from western NSW, Victoria and South Australia (with support from federal agencies) was formed to undertake laboratory and field scale studies for irrigated horticulture in this region.

Aims:

To determine the salinity relationships for irrigated horticulture along the lower Murray: Riverland, Sunraysia and NSW
Determine the variance of EC (soil water) in the field under known soil conditions and irrigation management
Simulate the performance of the main crops under different scenarios of river salinity at Morgan
Provide input to the implementation of the Salinity Strategy and Integrated Catchment Management Plan of the Murray-Darling Basin and the Living Murray initiative.

Location

State & NRM Region:

New South Wales

Victoria

Locations:

Lower Murray

Riverland

Sunraysia

Improved Seasonal Forecasts for Wool Producers in Australia’s Pastoral Zone

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 06:34:58 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Land, Water and Wool

Program Theme:

Climate Variability

Research Type:

Demonstration Project

Research Scale:

State

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

QNR30

Subjects

Subjects:

Climate (General)

Livestock (Sheep)

Livestock (Pastoral)

Landscape Management

Keywords:

Woolgrowers

Land Management

Stocking Rate

Climate Variability

Pastures

Seasonal Forecasting

Project Information

Summary:

Much of Australia’s rangelands are characterised by extreme climate variability which represents a major challenge for woolgrowers. In order to maintain or increase productivity while minimising negative environmental impacts on the land, producers need access to reliable seasonal climate forecast (SCF) information at critical times for key management decisions.

Current Activities

Status:

Pending

Background

Aims:

The objective of Improved Seasonal Forecasts for Wool Producers in Australia’s Pastoral Zone was to support and provide tools for the regional Managing Climate Variability Sup-program projects. It aimed to make SCF products more relevant to producers and their advisors through pasture growth simulation and prediction using Aussie GRASS, a national spatial pasture growth program.

Location

State & NRM Region:

New South Wales

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Victoria

Geographic Zone:

Broadacre: Wheat-Sheep

Broadacre: Pastoral