Farming on the Fringe: Agriculture and Climate Variability in the Western Australian Wheat Belt, 1890s to 1980s

2014 ◽  
pp. 159-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth A. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Variability ◽  
Australian Wheat ◽  
Western Australian

Defining soil macrofauna composition and activity for biopedological studies - A case study on two soils in the Western Australian wheat belt

Soil Research ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAL Debruyn
Keyword(s):  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Resident Species ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Soil Macrofauna ◽  
Major Species ◽  
Australian Wheat ◽  
Species Mapping ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
Good Agreement

In Durokoppin reserve and surrounding farmland, part of the central wheatbelt region, pitfall trapping and mapping of soil macrofauna activity were used to define the extent of soil macrofauna activity in these two environments. This type of study is a necessary precursor to determining the significance of certain invertebrate activity in soil modification in these habitats. The relative merits of the two techniques in determining the extent of soil macrofauna activity is assessed. The soil macrofauna groups identified by mapping and pitfall trapping as making a substantial contribution (in terms of relative abundance and activity) in all habitats were, in descending order, ants, spiders and scorpions (wandoo woodland only). In general there was good agreement between the two techniques in identifying the major species and trends in species composition between habitats, but mapping failed to identify the rare or cryptic species. Mapping more accurately identified the resident species in each habitat compared with pitfall trapping. Pitfall trapping data indicated that foraging activity of most soil macrofauna was depressed over winter, except for beetles, and was higher in the spring and summer sampling periods. However, mapping revealed a more constant level of soil macrofauna activity, especially for ant nests. It is argued that the two approaches complement one another and that each has value in interpreting the effects of soil macrofauna activity on soil properties in further studies. The discussion is based on the results of a study carried out in the Kellerberrin area of Western Australia.

Calcined rock phosphate as fertilizer for pasture and cereal production in Western Australia

1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (36) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
MG Mason ◽  
WJ Cox
Keyword(s):  
Low Temperature ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Rock Phosphate ◽  
Sandy Loam ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Christmas Island ◽  
Cereal Production ◽  
Australian Wheat ◽  
Western Australian

Calcined rock phosphate is prepared by low temperature (500�F) calcination of 'C' grade Christmas Island rock phosphate that is unsuitable for superphosphate production. It was compared with superphosphate and with mixtures of superphosphate and calcined rock phosphate for pasture and cereal production at two sites in the 12-18 in. annual rainfall zone of the Western Australian wheat belt. At equivalent levels of applied phosphorus, superphosphate was a better fertilizer than calcined rock phosphate over the two years of the trials. There was evidence that the phosphorus in superphosphate was less available when mixtures of superphosphate and calcined rock phosphate were applied, than when superphosphate was applied alone. A pasture response to sulphur occurred at Chapman Research Station on a red-brown sandy loam. There was no response to sulphur by cereals.

Non-symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria in soil. II. Studies on Azotobacter.

1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 388 ◽  
Author(s):  
CA Parker
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Microscopic Examination ◽  
Free Medium ◽  
Fixed Nitrogen ◽  
Selective Media ◽  
Partial Pressures ◽  
Selective Agar ◽  
Agar Media ◽  
Australian Wheat ◽  
Western Australian

Forty-two soils from the Western Australian wheat belt were examined for the presence of Azotobacter by microscopic examination of enrichment cultures, and by plate identification on three different selective agar media. Judged microscopically, most of the soils appeared to contain Azotobacter; culturally, distribution was sporadic and varied greatly according to the medium used. Distribution was not correlated with soil type. Colony production on the selective media was not improved by the addition of straw extracts, amino acids, or vitamins, or when the plates were incubated at lowered oxygen partial pressures. A freshly isolated strain of A. chroococcum fixed nitrogen more efficiently when grown in association with another soil bacterium; in pure culture it showed adaptation to a nitrogen-free medium. Viable counts on different agar media with different treatments indicated the presence in one medium of an inhibitor which greatly reduced the number of colonies formed. It is concluded that nitrogen-free selective media may give an unreliable estimate of the distribution of Azotobacter in soils.

The Characterization of Salt Tolerance in Biomining Microorganisms and the Search for Novel Salt Tolerant Strains

2009 ◽  
Vol 71-73 ◽  
pp. 283-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla M. Zammit ◽  
L.A. Mutch ◽  
Helen R. Watling ◽  
Elizabeth L.J. Watkin
Keyword(s):  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Salt Tolerant ◽  
Acidic Media ◽  
Comparative Tests ◽  
Nacl Tolerance ◽  
Oxidation Rates ◽  
Australian Wheat ◽  
Western Australian

In this study an acidic saline drain in the Western Australian wheat belt was sampled and enriched for salt tolerant chemolithotrophic microorganisms in acidic media containing up to 100 gL-1 NaCl. A mixed consortium was obtained which grows at pH 1.8 and oxidises iron (II) in the presence of up to 30 gL-1 NaCl. In comparative tests (growth rates and iron (II) oxidation rates) it was found that NaCl concentrations >3.5 gL-1 generally cause reduced growth and iron (II) oxidation rates in known biomining organisms. The results help to set a benchmark for NaCl tolerance in known biomining microorganisms and will lead to the generation of a consortium of microorganisms that can oxidise iron (II) effectively in saline process water.

The Breeding Biology, Food, Social-Organization, Demography and Conservation of the Major Mitchell or Pink Cockatoo, Cacatua-Leadbeateri, on the Margin of the Western Australian Wheat-Belt

1991 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Rowley ◽  
G Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Social Organization ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Nearest Neighbour ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
The Face ◽  
Strict Enforcement ◽  
Australian Wheat ◽  
Western Australian

The breeding biology of the Major Mitchell or pink cockatoo, Cacatua leadbeateri, was studied over six years at Yandegin on the margin of the Western Australian wheatbelt. Neither winter nor annual rainfall influenced the timing of egg-laying, which was spread over August and September. Most clutches (n = 63) were of three or four eggs, 84% of which hatched; 64% of nestlings fledged successfully and, on average, 1.27 independent young per pair were added to the population each autumn. Breeding pairs remained together throughout the year, spending the non-breeding season in a Local Nomadic Flock of 30-50 individuals. Pairs usually renested in the same area each season, never closer than 1 km to another pair (mean nearest neighbour 2732 m). Hollows used by C. leadbeateri were characteristically shallow (< 1 m) and high up, whereas other cockatoos tend to be less selective. Such specific nest hollow requirements led to regular reuse of scarce traditional sites and consequent easy 'farming' of nestlings for the aviary trade; specificity also rendered the species more susceptible to loss of rare nest sites by clearing than were other cockatoos. Although C. leadbeateri are long-lived (adult c. 88% survival) and productivity at Yandegin appeared adequate to maintain a stable population, the shrinking distribution in the face of expanding wheat farming is irreversible. Conservation of the species depends on the protection of large areas of the remaining suitable semiarid woodland and the continuing strict enforcement of the complete ban on harvesting wild birds for the aviary trade.

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