Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species
Salt-affected land varies spatially and seasonally in terms of soil salinity and depth to the watertable. This paper asks whether native and naturalised species growing on saltland can be used as ‘indicators’ of saltland capability. The percentage cover of native and naturalised species was recorded...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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CSIRO Publishing
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5272 |
| _version_ | 1848744750639742976 |
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| author | Bennett, Sarita Barrett-Lennard, |
| author_facet | Bennett, Sarita Barrett-Lennard, |
| author_sort | Bennett, Sarita |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Salt-affected land varies spatially and seasonally in terms of soil salinity and depth to the watertable. This paper asks whether native and naturalised species growing on saltland can be used as ‘indicators’ of saltland capability. The percentage cover of native and naturalised species was recorded in spring 2004 and 2005 across saltland transects on three sites in Western Australia. The presence of these plants was related to average soil salinity (ECe) at depth (25–50 cm), and depth to the watertable in spring. Eight naturalised species occurred with ≥40% cover on the sites. Species preferences varied, with some such as samphire (Tecticornia pergranulata) and puccinellia (Puccinellia ciliata) only occurring with shallow watertables (<0.7 m deep) and with ECe values >16 dS/m. Other species such as capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) were dominant where watertables were deeper (>1.3 m) and salinity levels lower (ECe values 2–8 and 4–16 dS/m, respectively). Our data suggest that some of the species recorded can be used as indicators of saltland capability and, further, can predict the most productive species to sow in that area. Other species were found not to be good indicators as they displayed more opportunistic habitat requirements. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:06:26Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-5272 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:06:26Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-52722017-09-13T16:02:57Z Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species Bennett, Sarita Barrett-Lennard, wheatbelt production potential dryland salinity native and naturalised species Salt-affected land varies spatially and seasonally in terms of soil salinity and depth to the watertable. This paper asks whether native and naturalised species growing on saltland can be used as ‘indicators’ of saltland capability. The percentage cover of native and naturalised species was recorded in spring 2004 and 2005 across saltland transects on three sites in Western Australia. The presence of these plants was related to average soil salinity (ECe) at depth (25–50 cm), and depth to the watertable in spring. Eight naturalised species occurred with ≥40% cover on the sites. Species preferences varied, with some such as samphire (Tecticornia pergranulata) and puccinellia (Puccinellia ciliata) only occurring with shallow watertables (<0.7 m deep) and with ECe values >16 dS/m. Other species such as capeweed (Arctotheca calendula) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) were dominant where watertables were deeper (>1.3 m) and salinity levels lower (ECe values 2–8 and 4–16 dS/m, respectively). Our data suggest that some of the species recorded can be used as indicators of saltland capability and, further, can predict the most productive species to sow in that area. Other species were found not to be good indicators as they displayed more opportunistic habitat requirements. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5272 10.1071/CP12417 CSIRO Publishing fulltext |
| spellingShingle | wheatbelt production potential dryland salinity native and naturalised species Bennett, Sarita Barrett-Lennard, Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| title | Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| title_full | Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| title_fullStr | Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| title_short | Predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| title_sort | predictions of watertable depth and soil salinity levels for land capability assessment using site indicator species |
| topic | wheatbelt production potential dryland salinity native and naturalised species |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/5272 |