Table 6: On-farm management options for dryland salinity Approximate cost Longevity Mechanism Suitable locations Likelihood of success/ Associated benefits/ Management and soils reliability drawbacks Option Productive use of Cost of enterprise As long as the option saline-affected areas for Marginal areas Reliable, if established in Dryland salinity is not resolved, but can saline land remains in place potentially profitable options around saline areas the right areas reduce spread or rate of spread such as feed (e.g. saltbush) for Reduces risk of waterlogging, wind and livestock or carbon farming erosion Perennial plant Cost of establishment Benefits retained for as Planting deep-rooted perennials Medium- to Only protects the land on Dryland salinity is not resolved options to prevent ($100-150/ha) long as perennials remain can increase use and areas which it is located Encroachment is slowed where perennials salinisation reduce groundwater recharge Lost income from cropping Areas adjacent to Little benefit to surrounds are planted on land allocated to saline land Reduces risk of waterlogging, wind and perennials erosion Income from perennials is driven by the profitability of the livestock enterprise. It is at best marginally profitable Farm forestry Cost of trees and Benefits are retained while Planting trees for commercial Areas of relatively Only protects the land on Diversified income maintenance of trees trees are in place forestry and/or carbon fresh groundwater, which it is located Stabilisation of soil sequestration transmissive Little benefit to surrounds Livestock husbandry localised aquifers, and slopes greater Potentially improved water quality than 4% Reduced waterlogging Carbon sequestration Engineering High cost of engineering Benefits are retained while Low to moderate Off-site impacts of drained water (often solutions works drains are in place highly acidic or high in toxic metals) Limited benefits beyond the Salt-tolerant crops Cost of new seed Annual Allows for continued profitable Mildly affected saline Low to moderate Does not address the problem cropping areas Retirement of Cost of fence ($3500/km Benefits are retained while Area is fenced and natural Most successful High Reduces land degradation from salt land at contract rates) land is excluded regeneration allowed to occur when topsoil accumulation Regenerates well if fenced remains off and excluded Less salt washes downstream Reduced risk of wind and water erosion Increased biodiversity In the long term, can provide grazing land
Table 6: On-farm management options for dryland salinity Management Option Approximate cost Longevity Mechanism Suitable locations and soils Likelihood of success/ reliability Associated benefits/ drawbacks Productive use of saline land Cost of enterprise As long as the option remains in place saline-affected areas for potentially profitable options such as feed (e.g. saltbush) for livestock or carbon farming Marginal areas around saline areas Reliable, if established in the right areas Dryland salinity is not resolved, but can reduce spread or rate of spread Reduces risk of waterlogging, wind and erosion Perennial plant options to prevent salinisation Cost of establishment ($100-150/ha) Lost income from cropping on land allocated to perennials Income from perennials is driven by the profitability of the livestock enterprise. It is at best marginally profitable Benefits retained for as long as perennials remain Planting deep-rooted perennials can increase use and reduce groundwater recharge Medium- to areas Areas adjacent to saline land Only protects the land on which it is located Little benefit to surrounds Dryland salinity is not resolved Encroachment is slowed where perennials are planted Reduces risk of waterlogging, wind and erosion Farm forestry Cost of trees and maintenance of trees Benefits are retained while trees are in place Planting trees for commercial forestry and/or carbon sequestration Areas of relatively fresh groundwater, transmissive localised aquifers, and slopes greater than 4% Only protects the land on which it is located Little benefit to surrounds Diversified income Stabilisation of soil Livestock husbandry Potentially improved water quality Reduced waterlogging Carbon sequestration Engineering solutions High cost of engineering works Benefits are retained while drains are in place Low to moderate Limited benefits beyond the Off-site impacts of drained water (often highly acidic or high in toxic metals) Salt-tolerant crops Cost of new seed Annual Allows for continued profitable cropping Mildly affected saline areas Low to moderate Does not address the problem Retirement of land Cost of fence ($3500/km at contract rates) Benefits are retained while land is excluded Area is fenced and natural regeneration allowed to occur Most successful when topsoil remains High Regenerates well if fenced off and excluded Reduces land degradation from salt accumulation Less salt washes downstream Reduced risk of wind and water erosion Increased biodiversity In the long term, can provide grazing land
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