Climate, land & water

Western Australia’s agriculture sector needs access to productive soil and water resources for growth and profit. However, the sector must compete with increasing resource demands from all sectors of the community, and the pressures of a changing climate. The Agriculture and Food division of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development supports agriculture by providing long-term management solutions, practical risk management strategies and tools to maintain and improve resource conditions, to meet the needs of industry and stakeholders. Agriculture and Food is also pioneering soil and water investigation of the state’s undeveloped areas to establish new irrigated agricultural industries.

Articles

  • Sporobolus virginicus (marine couch), Paspalum vaginatum (saltwater couch) and Distichlis spicata (Distichlis) have high tolerance to waterlogging and moderate tolerance

  • This page lists species commonly found on or near saline land in southern Western Australia. These species can be used as indicators of the level of salinity and waterlogging on the site.

  • Surviving plants appear to be limp and water stressed.

    Salinity affects growth by reducing plant root ability to extract water from the soil, and chloride toxicity.

  • Poor weed and pea germination due to wet saline soil

    Field peas are sensitive to waterlogging and moderately sensitive to soil salinity. Soil salinity affects plant growth by reducing the roots ability to extract water from the soil.

  • Reduced emergence and smaller plants that die earlier near saline areas

    Salinity affects plant growth by reducing the root's ability to extract water from the soil. Salinity damage varies from season to season due to variations in the soil salt concentration.