scholarly journals Achieving drought resilience in the grazing lands of northern Australia: preparing, responding and recovering

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Bowen ◽  
F. Chudleigh
Keyword(s):  
Northern Australia ◽  
Drought Resilience ◽  
Grazing Lands

Is land condition a useful indicator of soil organic carbon stock in Australia’s northern grazing land?

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. G. Bray ◽  
D. E. Allen ◽  
B. P. Harms ◽  
D. J. Reid ◽  
G. W. Fraser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Grazing Land ◽  
Condition Indicators ◽  
Land Condition ◽  
Soc Stock ◽  
Grazing Lands ◽  
Soc Stocks

The grazing lands of northern Australia contain a substantial soil organic carbon (SOC) stock due to the large land area. Manipulating SOC stocks through grazing management has been presented as an option to offset national greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and other industries. However, research into the response of SOC stocks to a range of management activities has variously shown positive, negative or negligible change. This uncertainty in predicting change in SOC stocks represents high project risk for government and industry in relation to SOC sequestration programs. In this paper, we seek to address the uncertainty in SOC stock prediction by assessing relationships between SOC stocks and grazing land condition indicators. We reviewed the literature to identify land condition indicators for analysis and tested relationships between identified land condition indicators and SOC stock using data from a paired-site sampling experiment (10 sites). We subsequently collated SOC stock datasets at two scales (quadrat and paddock) from across northern Australia (329 sites) to compare with the findings of the paired-site sampling experiment with the aim of identifying the land condition indicators that had the strongest relationship with SOC stock. The land condition indicators most closely correlated with SOC stocks across datasets and analysis scales were tree basal area, tree canopy cover, ground cover, pasture biomass and the density of perennial grass tussocks. In combination with soil type, these indicators accounted for up to 42% of the variation in the residuals after climate effects were removed. However, we found that responses often interacted with soil type, adding complexity and increasing the uncertainty associated with predicting SOC stock change at any particular location. We recommend that caution be exercised when considering SOC offset projects in northern Australian grazing lands due to the risk of incorrectly predicting changes in SOC stocks with change in land condition indicators and management activities for a particular paddock or property. Despite the uncertainty for generating SOC sequestration income, undertaking management activities to improve land condition is likely to have desirable complementary benefits such as improving productivity and profitability as well as reducing adverse environmental impact.

Implications of retaining woody regrowth for carbon sequestration for an extensive grazing beef business: a bio-economic modelling case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giselle Whish ◽  
Lester Pahl ◽  
Steven Bray
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Economic Modelling ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Modelling Framework ◽  
Grazing Lands ◽  
Financial Losses

A bio-economic modelling framework (GRASP-ENTERPRISE) was used to assess the implications of retaining woody regrowth for carbon sequestration on a case study beef grazing property in northern Australia. Five carbon farming scenarios, ranging from 0% to 100% of the property regrowth retained for carbon sequestration, were simulated over a 20-year period (1993–2012). Dedicating regrowth on the property for carbon sequestration reduced pasture (up to 40%) and herd productivity (up to 20%), and resulted in financial losses (up to 24% reduction in total gross margin). A net carbon income (income after grazing management expenses are removed) of $2–4 per t CO2-e was required to offset economic losses of retaining regrowth on a moderately productive (~8 ha adult equivalent–1) property where income was from the sale of weaners. A higher opportunity cost ($ t–1 CO2-e) of retaining woody regrowth is likely for feeder steer or finishing operations, with improved cattle prices, and where the substantial transaction and reporting costs are included. Although uncertainty remains around the price received for carbon farming activities, this study demonstrated that a conservatively stocked breeding operation can achieve positive production, environmental and economic outcomes, including net carbon stock. This study was based on a beef enterprise in central Queensland’s grazing lands, however, the approach and learnings are expected to be applicable across northern Australia where regrowth is present.

Resting pastures to improve land condition in northern Australia: guidelines based on the literature and simulation modelling

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joe C. Scanlan ◽  
John G. McIvor ◽  
Steven G. Bray ◽  
Robyn A. Cowley ◽  
Leigh P. Hunt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Simulation Modelling ◽  
Experimental Information ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Land Condition ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Grazing Lands ◽  
Stocking Rates

Pasture rest is a possible strategy for improving land condition in the extensive grazing lands of northern Australia. If pastures currently in poor condition could be improved, then overall animal productivity and the sustainability of grazing could be increased. The scientific literature is examined to assess the strength of the experimental information to support and guide the use of pasture rest, and simulation modelling is undertaken to extend this information to a broader range of resting practices, growing conditions and initial pasture condition. From this, guidelines are developed that can be applied in the management of northern Australia’s grazing lands and also serve as hypotheses for further field experiments. The literature on pasture rest is diverse but there is a paucity of data from much of northern Australia as most experiments have been conducted in southern and central parts of Queensland. Despite this, the limited experimental information and the results from modelling were used to formulate the following guidelines. Rest during the growing season gives the most rapid improvement in the proportion of perennial grasses in pastures; rest during the dormant winter period is ineffective in increasing perennial grasses in a pasture but may have other benefits. Appropriate stocking rates are essential to gain the greatest benefit from rest: if stocking rates are too high, then pasture rest will not lead to improvement; if stocking rates are low, pastures will tend to improve without rest. The lower the initial percentage of perennial grasses, the more frequent the rests should be to give a major improvement within a reasonable management timeframe. Conditions during the growing season also have an impact on responses with the greatest improvement likely to be in years of good growing conditions. The duration and frequency of rest periods can be combined into a single value expressed as the proportion of time during which resting occurs; when this is done the modelling suggests the greater the proportion of time that a pasture is rested, the greater is the improvement but this needs to be tested experimentally. These guidelines should assist land managers to use pasture resting but the challenge remains to integrate pasture rest with other pasture and animal management practices at the whole-property scale.

Distribution, seasonal movements and habitat utilisation of an endangered shark, Glyphis glyphis, from northern Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 573 ◽  
pp. 203-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
BJ Lyon ◽  
RG Dwyer ◽  
RD Pillans ◽  
HA Campbell ◽  
CE Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Northern Australia ◽  
Seasonal Movements

Discriminatory Taxation in Light of Fortescue: Its Implications for the Development of Northern Australia

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Anthony Gray
Keyword(s):  
Federal Government ◽  
Court Decision ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
High Court ◽  
The North ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
Word Discrimination ◽  
Taxation System

In the recent Fortescue decision, the High Court made some interesting observations regarding interpretation of the word ‘discrimination’ in the context of the Federal Government's power with respect to taxation in s 51(2) of the Australian Constitution. Coincidentally, the Federal Government has commenced consideration of options for the development of northern regions of Australia. Of course, one option would be to introduce a variable taxation system to encourage businesses and individuals to be based, and/or invest, in northern Australia. This article considers possible constitutional issues associated with variable taxation schemes overtly favouring businesses and individuals based in the ‘north’, given the recent High Court decision.

Matries and Subsections: Bodies and Social Personae in Northern Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Harvey ◽  
Murray Garde
Keyword(s):  
Northern Australia
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