Current climate and soil and water resources
The current condition of soil and water resources on farms in the south-west of Western Australia is mixed. For details, see the Report card on sustainable natural resource use in agriculture in Western Australia. There has been progress in some areas, such as managing wind and water erosion, but the status and trend for many other indicators of resource condition is adverse.
Most erosion events over the past 15 years have been associated with intense summer storms across the south-west of the State, and decaying tropical cyclones in the eastern grainbelt and adjoining rangeland catchment areas. The erosion risks associated with events like these are likely to increase with the following climate projections:
- cyclone intensity increasing and tracking further south
- drier and more-variable conditions reducing plant cover.
Projected climate and resource condition
Projected changes in rainfall amount, distribution and intensity, and any associated changes in vegetation cover and water use, have the potential to cause substantial changes in landscape hydrology and salinity risk.
Projected changes include:
- Decreased winter rainfall:
- is likely to decrease groundcover in summer, which would increase wind erosion risk
- and a shorter growing season increases the risk of erosion with dry seeding and deep soil cultivation just before the break of season
- in the south-west of the State may reduce recharge and reduce development of secondary salinisation in some areas.
- Areas with significant increases of summer rainfall (amount and intensity) will experience episodic recharge and rising saline watertables, and increased risk of water erosion.
- Declining rainfall in irrigation areas will result in declining water quality, reduced leaching of salts and an increased risk of salinisation.
- Where climate change reduces plant growth (less rain, higher temperatures), soil organic carbon is expected to decline.
- Increased temperatures are likely to increase livestock water requirements and may increase the risk of overgrazing near watering points in pastoral areas. Surface water storage has a greater risk of algal blooms in higher temperatures.
What are the options for adapting to climate change?
The options for managing soil and water resources in response to climate change are usually specific to an industry. Refer to the industry climate change pages:
For more information
Download the full bulletin:
Sudmeyer, R A, Edward, A, Fazakerley, V, Simpkin, L, and Foster, I (2016), Climate change: impacts and adaptation for agriculture in Western Australia, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia, Perth, Bulletin 4870.