|
Plants for Saltland
Salt tolerant plants have unique attributes which allow them to grow in saline and waterlogged conditions. Because salinity and waterlogging are usually variable across a paddock, planting a mixture of different salt tolerant plants allows different species to colonise different areas. A mixture of plant species can also improve animal performance on saltland pastures when halophytes (salt loving plants) are mixed with grasses and/or clovers.
Researchers are continually working on improving existing plants, and searching for new plants that will improve grazing performance on saltland. The following are the best bet plant species which have been tried and tested on saltland by farmers across Western Australia.
The following downloadable files provide more information on the nutritional properties of various salt tolerant plants.
 NUTRITIVE VALUE OF PLANTS GROWING ON SALTLAND (126KB)
Provides detailed analyses on the properties of various saltland plants collected in Western Australia , and how this influences grazing value.
NUTRITIVE VALUE OF HALOPHYTES (SALT LOVING PLANTS) (205KB)
Describes the variation in nutritive value between common halophytes.
 |
Source - 'Saltland Pastures in Australia ' |
Bluebush
Scientific name: Maireana brevifolia
Description:
A small perennial shrub up to one metre high. It's leaves are small and succulent and dark blue-green in colour. It occurs naturally across southern Australia.
Rainfall Zone:
250-400 mm
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Moderate salt tolerance, but low waterlogging tolerance.
Site Selection and Establishment:
Bluebush can easily be established with a niche seeder, by laying 'in seed' branches on a cultivated paddock, or by excluding stock from a paddock where the plant is naturally occurring.
Grazing:
Bluebush is high in oxalates, so should not be fed to sheep on its own. Hungry sheep should not be introduced to a bluebush paddock. Most farmers find grazing bluebush most valuable during the autumn feed gap, however grazing bluebush is not as simple as putting the sheep in and closing the gate. Bluebush leaves are high in salt, which means a sheep's voluntary intake of these plants will be limited by their inability to process salt. Sheep grazing bluebush will need a low-salt understorey or supplement (hay) to achieve weight maintenance. They will also need a plentiful supply of good quality water to help flush the salts from their system.
For more information:
Michael Lloyd, Chairman, SPA, michael_lloyd@esat.net.au
RETURN TO TOP
 Old man saltbush
Scientific name:
Atriplex nummularia
Description:
A large, erect shrub with an extensive root system, growing to 2 metres. The leaves are a greyish green, and large compared the other saltbush species.
Rainfall Zone:
175-400mm
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Moderate tolerance to salinity. Does not tolerate long periods of waterlogging, especially in summer.
Site Selection and Establishment:
Old man saltbush can be established from seed (using a niche seeder) on sandy surfaced soils, or can also be planted as a seedling in heavier soils. Seeding/planting is best done Spring (late August onwards), when soil temperatures are warmer. Saltbush should be planted in narrow rows on highly saline sites, or wider rows on fresher sites, where grasses and clovers may grow underneath.
Grazing:
Most farmers find grazing saltbush most valuable during the autumn feed gap, however grazing saltbush is not as simple as putting the sheep in and closing the gate. Saltbush leaves contain up to 30% salt, which means a sheep's volutary intake of these plants will be limited by their inability to process salt. Saltbush is also high in protein but low in energy. These combined factors mean sheep grazing saltbush will need a low-salt understorey or supplement (hay) to achieve weight maintenance. They will also need a plentiful supply of good quality water to help flush the salts from their system.
For more information:
Michael Lloyd, Chairman, SPA, michael_lloyd@esat.net.au
RETURN TO TOP
Puccinellia
 Scientific name:
Puccinellia ciliata
Description:
Puccinellia is a tussock-forming grass that grows to about 40cm in height. Its leaves are long and thin, and dullish green in colour. Puccinellia is a 'resurrection grass' meaning it hays off in summer, then reshoots from the tiller bases after opening winter rains.
Rainfall Zone:
>350 mm, or sometimes less if subsoil moisture is available.
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Puccinellia is highly tolerant to both salinity and waterlogging.
Site Selection and Establishment:
Puccinellia is a temperate grass, and can be sown in winter or spring. Usually farmers find it easiest to seed after the rest of their cropping program. Puccinellia should be sown at between 4 and 10kg/ha. Lower rainfall areas and highly saline soils will require higher the seeding rates.
Good weed and RLEM control are essential.
Because the seed is tiny, it is best to seed very shallow, or onto a scarified surface. Rolling afterwards can assist seed-soil contact on sandy-surfaced soils.
Grazing:
Do not graze until the second summer, but otherwise summer grazing provides a valuable feed source. Avoid grazing during seed set (late winter, early spring).
For more information:
Sally Phelan, Project Manager, SPA, spa@agric.wa.gov.au
RETURN TO TOP
 |
Source - 'Saltland Pastures in Australia ' |
River saltbush
Scientific name: Atriplex amnicola
Description:
Can be prostrate or erect in growth habit, and varies widely in leaf size and shape. Leaves tend to be more green, than the grey-green typical of saltbush. Grows up to 2.5 metres high.
Rainfall Zone:
250-550 mm
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Moderate to high tolerance to salinity and waterlogging, although
long periods of waterlogging in summer can cause death.
Site Selection and Establishment:
River saltbush is native to the Murchison area of Western Australia and has the best long term survival of all saltbushes. It tends to perform best in warmer northern agricultural areas, however good results can still be achieved further south. River saltbush does not establish well from seed; it is recommended that seedling are used. 'Rivermor' and 'Meeberrie' lines have been selected from better establishment and are more likely to produce volunteer seedlings. Planting is best done Spring (late August onwards), when soil temperatures are warmer. Saltbush should be planted in narrow rows on highly saline sites, or wider rows on fresher sites, where grasses and clovers may grow underneath.
Grazing:
Most farmers find grazing saltbush most valuable during the autumn feed gap, however grazing saltbush is not as simple as putting the sheep in and closing the gate. Saltbush leaves contain up to 30% salt, which means a sheep's voluntary intake of these plants will be limited by their inability to process salt. Saltbush is also high in protein but low in energy. These combined factors mean sheep grazing saltbush will need a low-salt understorey or supplement (hay) to achieve weight maintenance. They will also need a plentiful supply of good quality water to help flush the salts from their system.
River saltbush is one of the more palatable species and recovers well from heavy grazing.
For more information:
Michael Lloyd, Chairman, SPA, michael_lloyd@esat.net.au
Barrett-Lennard, Ed. (2003). Saltland Pastures in Australia - A Practical Guide. Land, Water and Wool, Canberra .
RETURN TO TOP
Tall wheat grass
 Scientific name:
Thinopryum ponticum
Description:
Tall wheat grass is a tussock-forming perennial grass that grows to about 1 m in height. The leaves are long and flat, with small ridges running lengthways. They are bluish green in colour. Tall wheat grass has distinctive seed heads which can grow taller than the plant. It is most active in late spring.
Rainfall Zone:
>350 mm, or sometimes less if subsoil moisture is available.
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Tall wheat grass has moderate tolerance to salinity and waterlogging.
Site Selection and Establishment:
Tall wheat grass can be sown in winter or spring. Earlier sowing is more common in low rainfall areas where moisture becomes limited in spring. As with puccinellia, high seeding rates are needed in lower rainfall, higher salinity environments. Care should not be taken to bury the seed too deep. Good weed control is essential as growth is slow in the first year.
Can be useful sown in a mix with puccinellia.
Grazing:
Do not graze until the second summer, but otherwise summer grazing provides a valuable feed source. It is important to graze tall wheat grass heavily, or the stems become rank and unpalatable.
For more information:
Sally Phelan, Project Manager, SPA, spa@agric.wa.gov.au
RETURN TO TOP
Wavy leaf saltbush
 |
Source - 'Saltland Pastures in Australia ' |
Scientific name:
Atriplex undulata
Description:
A low shrub, growing to one metre high and two metres across. The leaves are small and wavy, and greyish green in colour.
Rainfall Zone:
250-500mm
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Moderate tolerance to salinity. Do not tolerate long periods
of waterlogging, especially in summer. Less waterlogging tolerant than other saltbush species.
Site Selection and Establishment:
Wavy leaf saltbush comes from the semi-arid rangeland of Argentina . It is the easiest saltbush to establish from seed (using a niche seeder) on sandy surfaced soils, or can also be planted as a seedling in heavier soils. Seeding/planting is best done Spring (late August onwards), when soil temperatures are warmer. Saltbush should be planted in narrow rows on highly saline sites, or wider rows on fresher sites, where grasses and clovers may grow underneath. Wavy-leaf does not produce large quatities of feed and so is usually mixed with other saltbush species (generally old man).
Grazing:
Most farmers find grazing saltbush most valuable during the autumn feed gap, however grazing saltbush is not as simple as putting the sheep in and closing the gate. Saltbush leaves contain up to 30% salt, which means a sheep's volutary intake of these plants will be limited by their inability to process salt. Saltbush is also high in protein but low in energy. These combined factors mean sheep grazing saltbush will need a low-salt understorey or supplement (hay) to achieve weight maintenance. They will also need a plentiful supply of good quality water to help flush the salts from their system.
Wavy leaf saltbush does not withstand heavy grazing.
For more information:
Michael Lloyd, Chairman, SPA, michael_lloyd@esat.net.au
Barrett-Lennard, Ed. (2003). Saltland Pastures in Australia - A Practical Guide. Land, Water and Wool, Canberra .
RETURN TO TOP
 |
Source - 'Saltland Pastures in Australia ' |
Samphire
Scientific name: Halosarcia species
Description:
A small native perennial shrub with succulent leaves ranging from green to purple in colour. Samphire generally form a fringe around bare saline areas and salt lakes.
Rainfall Zone:
175mm>
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Highly tolerant to salinity and waterlogging
Site Selection and Establishment:
Samphire will spread rapidly when livestock are excluded. Seed can be broadcast onto scarified soil before opening rains.
Grazing:
Using samphire for grazing purposes is not recommended. Generally fencing off these highly saline areas is the best way to manage them.
More information:
Barrett-Lennard, Ed. (2003). Saltland Pastures in Australia - A Practical Guide. Land, Water and Wool, Canberra .
RETURN TO TOP
Balansa Clover
 Scientific name:
Trifolium michelianum
Varieties:
Frontier  (325-500 mm annual rainfall)
Paradana (450-600 mm annual rainfall)
Bolta  (>550 mm annual rainfall)
Description:
Balansa clover is a self-regenerating annual pasture legume. It is semi-erect in dense swards reaching up to 800 mm in height. Stems are hairless and hollow and flowers have variable markings. It is aerial seeding with white to pinkish flowers. It is a prolific seeder and produces very small (<1 mg) seeds coloured yellow, brown, green or black.
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Balansa clover has excellent waterlogging tolerance but limited salinity tolerance. Its performance on saline soils can be patchy, particularly in the second and subsequent years after sowing. Best performance appears to occur in years with heavy opening rains to the season.
Site Selection and Establishment:
Balansa clover performs best in winter-wet locations. It is suited to a variety of soil types with pH ranging from 4.2-8.0 (CaCl 2 ). Best production occurs on sandy loams to clays with moderate to high fertility.
Balansa clover seed should be inoculated with Group C rhizobia and sown into a fine, clod-free seedbed at a sowing rate of 4-5 kg/ha. As the seed is very small, sowing depth should be <1 cm. Successful establishment can also be achieved by dropping seed onto the surface and covering with light harrows or a rubber-tyred roller. Good weed control is required prior to sowing. Good RLEM control is essential at sowing and in subsequent years. Aphid control may also be required in spring.
Grazing:
Newly sown balansa clover pastures can be lightly grazed during the establishment year, although stock should be removed or stocking rate reduced at the start of flowering to maximise seed set. Pastures should not be crash grazed at flowering or cut for hay during the first year. Once seed has matured in the head, pastures can be hard grazed. The small seed size will allow up to 40% of seed to pass through the animal.
Graze dry residues over summer to enable good regeneration.
For more information:
Dr Phil Nichols, Department of Agriculture, South Perth , pnichols@agric.wa.gov.au
RETURN TO TOP
Spineless Burr Medic
 Scientific name: Medicago polymorpha var. brevispina
Varieties:
Scimitar  (325-450 mm annual rainfall)
Cavalier  (375-550 mm annual rainfall)
Serena (<325 mm annual rainfall)
Santiago (300-425 mm annual rainfall)
Circle Valley (375-550 mm annual rainfall)
Scimitar  and Cavalier  are new cultivars with less hardseededness and greater productivity than the older cultivars.
Description:
Plants prostrate with trailing branches up to 500 mm long, but erect in dense pastures. Stems are hairless, often square in cross-section. Flowers are yellow in bunches of 3-4 per stalk. Pods have 1½ -5 coils, with spines absent or very small. Seeds are yellow, kidney shaped and weigh approximately 4 mg.
Salinity/Waterlogging tolerance:
Burr medics are tolerant of mild salinity. They will tolerate transient but not prolonged waterlogging.
Site Selection and Establishment:
Burr medics are best adapted to sandy clay loams and clay loams with pH ranging from 4.8-8.0 (CaCl 2 ).
Burr medic seed should be inoculated with Group AM rhizobia. Good weed control prior to sowing is essential, as limited broadleaf herbicide options are available. Sowing rate should be 7-10 kg/ha, with a sowing depth <1 cm. Good RLEM and lucerne flea control is essential at sowing. Check for RLEM, lucerne flea and aphids in spring and control if necessary.
Grazing:
Newly sown burr medic pastures should be grazed at moderate stocking rates from 6-8 weeks after germination to reduce weed competition and encourage development of a dense prostrate sward. Stock should be removed or stocking rate reduced at the start of flowering to maximise seed set. Pastures should not be crash grazed at flowering or cut for hay during the first year. Excessive grazing should be avoided over summer. Pods are readily eaten by sheep, resulting in seed loss and poor regeneration.
For more information:
Dr Phil Nichols, Department of Agriculture, South Perth , pnichols@agric.wa.gov.au
RETURN TO TOP
|
