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| Authors | Bennett, SJ; Barrett-Lennard, EG |
| Author Full Name | Bennett, Sarita Jane; Barrett-Lennard, E. G. |
| Title | Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| Source | CROP & PASTURE SCIENCE |
| Language | English |
| Document Type | Article |
| Author Keywords | dryland salinity; native and naturalised species; production potential; wheatbelt |
| Keywords Plus | WATERLOGGING TOLERANCE; PERENNIAL GRASSES; SALT TOLERANCE; SOUTHERN; PLANTS; PERSISTENCE; VEGETATION; LEGUMES |
| Abstract | Salt-affected land varies spatially and seasonally in terms of soil salinity and depth to the watertable. This paper asks whether native and naturalised species growing on saltland can be used as 'indicators' of saltland capability. The percentage cover of native and naturalised species was recorded in spring 2004 and 2005 across saltland transects on three sites in Western Australia. The presence of these plants was related to average soil salinity (ECe) at depth (25-50 cm), and depth to the watertable in spring. Eight naturalised species occurred with >= 40% cover on the sites. Species preferences varied, with some such as samphire (Tecticornia pergranulata) and puccinellia (Puccinellia ciliata) only occurring with shallow watertables (<0.7 m deep) and with ECe values >16 dS/m. Other species such as capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) were dominant where watertables were deeper (>1.3 m) and salinity levels lower (ECe values 2-8 and 4-16 dS/m, respectively). Our data suggest that some of the species recorded can be used as indicators of saltland capability and, further, can predict the most productive species to sow in that area. Other species were found not to be good indicators as they displayed more opportunistic habitat requirements. |
| Author Address | [Bennett, Sarita Jane; Barrett-Lennard, E. G.] Univ Western Australia, Future Farm Ind Cooperat Res Ctr, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; [Bennett, Sarita Jane; Barrett-Lennard, E. G.] Univ Western Australia, Sch Plant Biol, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; [Bennett, Sarita Jane; Barrett-Lennard, E. G.] Univ Western Australia, Ctr Ecohydrol, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia; [Barrett-Lennard, E. G.] Dept Agr & Food Western Australia, S Perth, WA 6151, Australia |
| Reprint Address | Bennett, SJ (corresponding author), Curtin Univ, Dept Environm & Agr, GPO Box U1987, Bentley, WA 6845, Australia. |
| E-mail Address | sarita.bennett@curtin.edu.au |
| ResearcherID Number | Bennett, Sarita Jane/D-8042-2013; Barrett-Lennard, Edward G/D-5387-2011 |
| ORCID Number | Bennett, Sarita Jane/0000-0001-8487-7560; Barrett-Lennard, Edward G/0000-0001-9945-1044 |
| Funding Agency and Grant Number | Land, Water and Wool Program; CRCAustralian GovernmentDepartment of Industry, Innovation and ScienceCooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme; CSIROCommonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO); Department of Food and Agriculture, Western Australia |
| Funding Text | This work was part of the research component of the Sustainable Grazing on Saline Lands Initiative (SGSL), funded by the Land, Water and Wool Program (a partnership between Australian Wool Innovation Limited and Land and Water Australia) and the CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity, CSIRO through its Divisions of Livestock Industries, Land and Water and Sustainable Ecosystems, and the Department of Food and Agriculture, Western Australia. Thanks to the host farmers: Kim and Emma Melvin (Wubin), Stan Pearse (Meckering), and Michael and Margaret Lloyd (Pingaring). |
| Times Cited | 1 |
| Total Times Cited Count (WoS, BCI, and CSCD) | 1 |
| Publisher | CSIRO PUBLISHING |
| Publisher City | CLAYTON |
| Publisher Address | UNIPARK, BLDG 1, LEVEL 1, 195 WELLINGTON RD, LOCKED BAG 10, CLAYTON, VIC 3168, AUSTRALIA |
| ISSN | 1836-0947 |
| 29-Character Source Abbreviation | CROP PASTURE SCI |
| ISO Source Abbreviation | Crop Pasture Sci. |
| Year Published | 2013 |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Beginning Page | 285 |
| Ending Page | 294 |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | 10.1071/CP12417 |
| Page Count | 10 |
| Web of Science Category | Agriculture, Multidisciplinary |
| Subject Category | Agriculture |
| Document Delivery Number | 196LB |
| Unique Article Identifier | WOS:000322775500008 |
| Plants associated with this reference |