SOILS AND VEGETATION

PRIORITY LS2

Soils at risk from biological and carbon decline

Tasmanian agricultural systems have relatively high organic carbon content (significantly greater than most of those on mainland Australia) due to climatic and soil influences (lower mean annual temperature and higher precipitation in Tasmania result in less oxidation of soil organic matter). Soil organic carbon
relates directly to productivity in agricultural soils. The relationship is a function of the organic carbon content in soil improving water holding capacity and nutrient availability, in addition to improving conditions for soil biological activity. Declining soil carbon levels across farmland of the Cradle Coast region are an issue for numerous aspects of soil health and farm productivity. Well-structured soils provide habitat for necessary organisms within the soil profile, with natural senescence of such soil organisms contributing to soil carbon stocks. Soil carbon itself has beneficial properties for soil structure, chemistry and microbiology, and soil carbon levels will reach a state of effective equilibrium based on land use and rainfall or irrigation. Excessive use of inputs, inadequate rest periods between intensive cropping or removal of carbon stocks at rates higher than biological processes can replace them, can lead to declining biological activity and the carbon that this activity facilitates the accumulation of.

outcome

By 2030, 30% of land managers in the region have adopted management practices to improve levels of soil organic carbon and biological activity.

threats

Local threats that can be addressed by NRM actions:

  • Loss of natural capital
  • Loss of production
  • Reduction in economically viable enterprises in the region

Actions

LS2.a

Encourage the adoption of practices under cropping that increase soil organic carbon and biological activity to benefit soil health and productivity

Encourage the adoption of grazing and pasture management practices that increase soil organic carbon and biological activity to improve pasture quality, persistence and productivity.

implementation

Investment Opportunity

  • Australian Government
  • Tasmanian Government
  • Regional or Local
  • Private or philanthropic

  • Information gathering activities including a foundational spatial review of properties in areas prone to carbon decline.
  • On-ground works including trials, demonstrations, and one-to-one advice on BMP for different production systems.
  • Behaviour-change and capacity-building activities such as BMP education and support, PMP facilitation, extension to landholders.

Landholders; industry bodies; agri-service providers; processors; State and Australian Government; research institutes.

Engagement with landholders including through the development of extension and education materials and website resources; field days and public events; on-farm customised support.