Productive Saltland Pastures for southern WA

Summary

This Producer Demonstration Site (PDS) aims to improve members’ knowledge and skills in the establishment, management, and benefits (profitability, productivity, and sustainability) of salt-tolerant forage systems on moderately salt-affected land for sheep producers in the Mediterranean zone of southern WA. 

Objectives

By January 2028, in the Great Southern and South Coast Region of WA:

1. Establish 6 paddock-scale PDS sites in year 1 to demonstrate variation in productivity of key shrub and understory varieties and a paddock scale increase in:

   • late summer/autumn (February – April) biomass production (up to 300%)

   • soil organic carbon and total carbon

2. Conduct a cost-benefit analysis to determine relative economic performance of the salt-tolerant feed-base systems (using the Saltland Genie SGSL Economics Calculator), focusing on BCR and payback period

3. 50% of core producers will have established a salt-tolerant forage system on their moderately salt-affected land for sheep grazing systems

4. 50% of observer producers will have established (or intend to establish) a salt-tolerant forage system on their moderately salt-affected land for sheep grazing systems

5. 90% of Core producers and 70% of observer producers will have increased their knowledge and skills in the establishment, management, and benefits (production and sustainability) of salt-tolerant forage systems on moderately salt-affected land for sheep grazing systems

6. Results of the PDS are widely disseminated through the following targeted extension/adoption activities:

   • SaltlandGenie App: Showcasing the PDS sites in conjunction with other R & D sites (across southern WA) through an interactive map

   • Salt Summit: Industry event to be held in 2024

   • Biennial Field Walks (2023, 2025 and 2027)

   • Project to presented at an industry event in 2026 or 2027 with PDS Core Producers

   • Publications (articles, case studies, flyers, etc.)

     • Gillamii Membership (newsletter, email, website and social media)

     • Wider Community (newsletter, regional/state conferences, Saltland Genie Web-app, MLA publications and media platforms)

Progress

The Gillamii Grower Group in the Great Southern of WA has set out to improve the productivity of marginal saltland land, with 150 hectares of salt-tolerant forage systems being established over the past12 months in collaboration with 4 farming families. This PDS Project aims to improve members’ knowledge and skills in the establishment, management, and benefits (profitability, productivity, and sustainability) of salt-tolerant pasture systems on moderately salt-affected land. In Year 3 (2023-2024), baseline pasture monitoring continued, revealing noticeable differences between the pasture-only sites (House 1 and 2) and the mixed pasture-fodder sites (Tomlinson and Standish). The mixed sites, having been rested and minimally grazed, demonstrated the biomass potential of the species mixes, with Tomlinson PDS showing the largest increase in digestible summer-autumn biomass (258% increase from 2023). Standish PDS showed a further 11% increase in biomass, aided by the regeneration of volunteer puccinellia and the readiness of saltbush seedlings for grazing later in the year. House PDS 1 and2 continued to generate income through grazing days, but a loss in overall biomass was expected due to overgrazing. A challenging dry period, exacerbated by the backlog in domestic sales and processing due to the reduced live export industry, placed pressure on livestock and grazing land. This resulted in a reduction of green feed, as reflected in Decipher NDVI imagery, which also led to declines in ME and crude protein from the 2023 analysis period. Addis PDS 1 and 2 failed to establish successfully, with poor site preparation, weed and pest management cited as key factors. Despite these challenges, there is hope for regeneration at Addis PDS 1 if weed competition is controlled and grazing minimized, with monitoring scheduled for March 2025 to assess whether reseeding is needed. Throughout the year, communications continued as per the communication plan, with regular updates shared via articles, social media, and extension activities. For further information about the project please visit Gillamii’s website->https://www.gillamii.org.au/all-projects-blog/saltland-producer-demonstration-site