It was introduced into Australia in 1935 and is fast gaining popularity as a species to sow on moderately saline sites. It is suited to areas with a rainfall above 350mm and will grow in poorly drained and moderately saline soils. It will also grow on acid sands over clay or loam and clays with high water holding capacity. It also tolerates alkaline soils.

Production Benefits

• Tall wheat grass has good summer growth with slow winter growth. For example 10-16kg/ha/day
• production was achieved at Frankland over summer/autumn.
• Using this pasture species will also result in a reduction in the need for supplementary feeding
• It has advantages in meat production where animals can be turned out into higher priced markets.
• Extended growing season with summer growth in response to available soil and rainfall.
• Highly water logging tolerant
• Will tolerate a wide range of soils
• Salt tolerant
• Excellent drought tolerance
• Resistant to stem and leaf rust from cereals

Environmental Benefits

• Being highly tolerant of water logging can be used to help manage farm hydrology
• Salt tolerant
• Excellent drought tolerance
• reduces soil erosion
• Uptake of nutrients can result in a reduction of fertiliser lost to waterways

Management issues

• Can become rank if not grazed appropriately.
• Generally should not be set stocked; prefers rotational or crash grazing and can have dry matter digestibility levels of between 54% and 80%.

Getting the most out of your farming business involves learning from others in the agricultural and NRM industry - sharing new ideas, solving problems and looking over the fence. Whether you are new to farming or have been working on the land your whole life there is the opportunity to learn and to teach others (as the Prograze groups have shown).

A number of landowners have suggested they would like to share information as an informal, farmer led group to learn more about farming and NRM in the lower, wetter, parts of the catchment. This could involve having guest speakers, visiting other farms to look at how they are tackling certain issues (eg drainage, perennials, revegetation), establishing trial sites and revegetation techniques.

If you would like to know more or to register your interest call Craig on 9848 2955. All ideas are welcome too.

Current Research - Seagrass Mapping in Wilson Inlet

The Department of Water's Aquatic Science Branch and South Coast Region staff have begun a project to assess the seagrass condition of waterways along the South Coast. It will help scientists and the community to better understand the changes in habitat condition and the health of Princess Royal Harbour, Oyster Harbour and Wilson Inlet.

Current studies will assess and report on changes from previous mapping surveys conducted in Wilson Inlet in 1994 and in Princess Royal Harbour and Oyster Harbour in 1981, 1984 and 1996.

The Albany harbours study used a combination of locally produced aerial imagery and ground-truthing with towed underwater video, visual assessments by boat and snorkelling along transects. As the water in Wilson Inlet is darkly coloured, aerial photography cannot be used so the assessment is carried out by snorkelling along transects.

Tracy doing seagrass mapping in Wilson Inlet

Mapping of the seagrass Ruppia megacarpa in Wilson Inlet commenced in February 2007. As well as comparing changes between surveys, the information gathered will complement cobbler fish habitat research being conducted by the Department of Fisheries and the Murdoch University Fish Research Group.

The mapping also includes the establishment of permanent transects for future monitoring.

For more information about this and other South Coast Water Information projects contact the Department of Water on 9842-5760.

The project has been partially funded through the Wilson Inlet Nutrient Reduction Action Plan's monitoring program (via South Coast NRM)