Farming Deep In Climate Change: The West Australia Experience

Climate change in the Northern Agriculture Region of WA - threats and opportunities Tim Wiley, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia Geraldton

Farmers recorded stock movements 06/07

DAFWA calculated grazing days for each paddock

DAFWA measured ground cover in May 2007

“ High stocking rate grazing systems to reduce erosion” Northern Agri Group with NLP, NACC & DAFWA

Sand storm 9 April 2007

Annual pasture on sand 30 May 2007

Crop stubble at Murray Carson’s

Perennial grass pasture & tagasaste

Jim Wedge’s ASCAS, October 2008 Soil Corer

Bulk Density sampling

Carson May 2008

Bain February 2008

Gillam Q&Q March 2007

‘ Whole soil’ Organic C in the top 30 cm of soil - annuals vs. perennials Paired paddock sampling 3.9 28.2 1.37 0.69 Perennial 23.2 1.38 0.56 Annual Carson -1.6 28.7 1.60 0.60 Perennial 30.4 1.60 0.63 Annual Bain 11.6 40.0 1.60 0.83 Perennial 28.1 1.60 0.59 Annual Bain 3.7 21.6 1.61 0.45 Perennial 15.5 1.61 0.32 Annual Forsyth 6.0 44.3 1.57 0.94 Perennial 37.7 1.57 0.80 Annual Wilson 10.8 31.5 1.60 0.66 Perennial 19.7 1.60 0.41 Annual Nixon CO2e t/ha/yr C t/ha Bulk Density OC% Pasture Paddocks

‘ Whole soil’ Organic C in the top 30 cm of soil - annuals vs. perennials 5.6 28.2 1.37 0.59 Rhodes 11.7 36.2 1.37 0.75 Kikuyu 21.0 1.42 0.44 Annual BRS 2.2 36.4 1.47 0.83 Couch -1.0 34.0 1.47 0.77 Green panic 7.2 40.1 1.47 0.91 Bambatsi panic 7.2 40.1 1.47 0.91 Siratro 9.9 42.1 1.47 0.96 Lucerne 3.1 37.0 1.47 0.84 Kikuyu 8.1 40.8 1.47 0.93 Rhodes 34.7 1.47 0.79 Annual Metcalfe 4.5 22.5 1.43 0.52 Signal grass 4.4 22.3 1.43 0.52 Green panic 2.7 20.6 1.43 0.48 Rhodes 17.9 1.28 0.47 Annual Gillam 5.1 24.7 1.47 0.56 Lucerne 6.3 25.6 1.47 0.58 Rhodes 20.9 1.48 0.47 Annual Combes B 16.0 33.9 1.38 0.82 Lotononis 9.4 29.0 1.38 0.70 Kikuyu 6.1 26.6 1.38 0.64 Rhodes 6.1 26.5 1.38 0.64 Green panic 22.0 1.38 0.53 Annual Combes A CO2e t/ha/yr C t/ha Bulk Density Organic C % Pasture Trial site