Environmental issues Australia’s rivers and landscapes are under threat from rising salinity. Many...

Environmental issues • Australia’s rivers and landscapes

are under threat from rising salinity.

• Many people feel that salinity is the most serious environmental threat to productive land and waterways

• CSIRO Fact sheet salinity October 2008

• http://www.csiro.au/files/files/pmyj.pdf

© Glenis Heath and Laurel Tully 2011

http://www.csiro.au/files/files/pmyj.pdf

http://www.csiro.au/files/files/pmyj.pdf

CSIRO Land and w

ater

The impact of salinity on land for primary production


CSIRO Land and waterSalinity and its impact biodiversity


CSIRO Land and waterImpact of salinity on the health of rivers and streams – may become too salty for humans and animals to drink


Land degradation : soil erosion Severe wind storms blow the top soil from the paddock removing the nutrient rich layer and reducing the productivity of the soil.


Managing soil erosion: planting wind breaks

Farmers can plant wind breaks to reduce soil erosion. These trees also protect stock from extreme weather conditions.


Managing soil erosion: no-till farming techniques No-till farming techniques retain crop stubble after harvest reducing wind and soil erosion. Direct drilling of seed is used to plant the next year’s crop so that the top soil is not disturbed exposing it to wind erosion.


Managing the use of chemicalsAerial spraying is used to spay herbicides and pesticides on broad acre crops such as wheat.


Managing the use of chemicalsThe run-off and drift from aerial spraying can contaminate rivers causing the development of blue-green algae.


Locusts swarm in the mallee Insect pests such as locusts devastate crops. Farmers may be forced to use chemical sprays to eradicate these pests and protect their crops.


locusts destroy cropsReduce chemical use by monitoring crops to determine whether spraying is required to reduce insect pests such as locusts


Organic farming • Natural systems include:• Pest management

– Natural insect predators including ladybird to eat insect pests

• Companion planting– Garlic planted between tomatoes to

ward off pests

• Fertilisers – Use of natural, non-synthetic, organic

fertilisers – animal manures – Organic fertilisers may be produced

from organic materials on the farm


Organic farming • The following links explain

organic farming methods • The Organic Farming Tour

Australia is available from:www.overlander.tvStarting point: 48.07Downloadable for $11.95

• The Chambers family of Fernleigh Farms near Daylesford who farm organic vegetables, beef and grazing pigs

(we will look at this in class)


http://www.overlander.tv/

Environmental issues Australia’s rivers and landscapes are under threat from rising salinity. Many...

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