Grainbelt landholders have been asked to protect their paddocks from wind erosion to maintain valuable topsoil and optimise productivity and profitability for the 2022 growing season.
There have been reports of wind erosion from across the agricultural region, particularly from the West Midlands.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has a wealth of information on on its .
Department senior research scientist Paul Findlater said paddocks should have at least 50 per cent groundcover, of which about 30 per cent should be anchored, to reduce the risk of soil erosion.
Mr Findlater said stubble management was key to preventing soil particles from becoming airborne.
鈥淲ith heavy stubbles this year in many areas, due to the large harvest, landholders will be in a good position to maintain groundcover and set up paddocks for the 2022 growing season,鈥 he said.
鈥淭here are additional benefits from retaining stubble, including improved rainfall infiltration, reduced soil water loss, improved soil organic matter and soil structure, as well as protecting seedlings from sand blasting in the new season.鈥
Mr Findlater advised growers to manage heavy stubbles carefully as they prepared paddocks for their 2022 sowing program to ensure sufficient groundcover was maintained.
鈥淲indrow burning is a practical option to reduce stubble residues and mange weed seeds to provide enough groundcover to prevent soil erosion,鈥 he said.
鈥沦辞尘别 are available on the department鈥檚 website.鈥
The department has more information on linked to its Season 2022 webpages, including targets for grazed and ungrazed stubbles.
Mr Findlater said while stubbles were often used as sheep feed, they do not contain as much nutrition as other feed alternatives.
鈥淪heep only eat about six per cent of stubbles and with more efficient harvesting techniques and weed control, stubble paddocks contain less nutritional value these days,鈥 he said.
鈥淲e recommend managing grazing to retain at least 600 kilograms per hectare of dry matter on pasture paddocks to prevent soil erosion.
鈥淔eed budgeting will be essential over summer and autumn to help manage pasture cover and livestock health.
鈥淎dequate ground cover will also enable pastures to jump away at the break of the season and provide a good feed source for livestock.鈥
Other ways to reduce soil erosion include keeping stock off paddocks with low cover by confinement feeding, feedlotting, agisting or selling stock before paddocks and stock lose condition.
The department recommends limiting all vehicle movements in paddocks that are susceptible to wind erosion and protecting small bare areas that could lead to soil blowouts, such as sheep camps, around gateways and laneways, by applying a binding spray, clay, gravel or straw.
Landholders are also encouraged to delay soil amelioration activities until the soil is moist, to reduce soil disturbance and the risk of erosion.
In severe cases, the Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation can issue a Soil Conservation Notice to direct a landholder to manage existing or prevent further erosion.
More information on ways to minimise the risk of soil erosion this summer is available on the department鈥檚 Season 2022 webpages, linked to the homepage .
Picture caption: DPIRD has reminded Grainbelt landholders to take action to ensure adequate groundcover to protect paddocks from the risk of soil erosion.
Media contacts:
Paul Findlater, senior research scientist +61 (0)8 9956 8535
Megan Broad/Katrina Bowers, media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937
