Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conservation Agriculture in Australia and New Zealand

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Conservation Agriculture

Abstract

The adoption and implementation of conservation farming principles have followed very different paths in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, severe erosion events, and the obvious advantages of conservation farming practices, led to rapid adoption, and currently around 90 % of farmers use some form of conservation agriculture. In New Zealand, advantages of conservation farming practices are not so obvious, and the perceived risks have resulted in adoption rates of less than 10 %. In this chapter, we briefly review the adoption in both Australia and New Zealand, and then look in greater detail at how the principles of conservation agriculture are currently being applied in Australia. Because agriculture in Australia is largely non-irrigated and reliant on rainfall, we have a specific focus on impacts of conservation farming practices on soil water balance. We also look at the future of conservation farming in Australia and New Zealand, and discuss recent advances in weed control strategies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker CJ, Collins RM, Choudhary MA (2003) Factors affecting the uptake of no-tillage in Australia, Asia and New Zealand. In: García-Torres L, Benites J, Martínez-Vilela A, Holgado-Cabrera A (eds) Conservation agriculture. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 13–20

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Baker CJ, Saxton KE, Ritchie WR, Chamen WCT, Reicosky DC, Ribeiro MFS, Justice SE, Hobbs PR (2007) No-tillage seeding in conservation agriculture. In: Baker CJ, Saxton KE (eds) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and CAB International, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckerfield JC, Lee KE, Davoren CW, Hannay JN (1997) Earthworms as indicators of sustainable production in dryland cropping in southern Australia. Soil Biol Biochem 29(3–4):547–554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Callaghan AR, Millington A (1957) The wheat industry in Australia. Angus and Robertson, Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornish PS, Pratley JE (1987) Tillage: new directions in Australian agriculture. Inkata, Melbourne

    Google Scholar 

  • D’Emden FH, Llewellyn RS, Burton MP (2006) Adoption of conservation tillage in Australian cropping regions: an application of duration analysis. Technol Forecast Soc Change 73(6):630–647

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Emden FH, Llewellyn RS, Burton MP (2008) Factors influencing adoption of conservation tillage in Australian cropping regions. Aust J Agric Resour Econ 52(2):169–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derpsch R (2005) Situational analysis of no-tillage systems in WA and recommendations for the way forward. WANTFA, Northam

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans TA, Dawes TZ, Ward PR, Lo N (2011) Ants and termites increase crop yield in a dry climate. Nat Commun 2:262

    Google Scholar 

  • Farooq M, Flower KC, Jabran K, Wahid A, Siddique KHM (2011) Crop yield and weed management in rainfed conservation agriculture. Soil Till Res 117:172–183

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferdowsian R, George R, Lewis F, McFarlane D, Short R, Speed R (eds) (1996) The extent of dryland salinity in Western Australia. Promaco, Albany

    Google Scholar 

  • Flower KC, Cordingley N, Ward PR, Weeks C (2012) Nitrogen, weed management and economics with cover crops in conservation agriculture in a Mediterranean climate. Field Crops Res 132:63–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freebairn DM, Boughton WC (1980) Surface runoff experiments on the eastern Darling Downs. Aust J Soil Res 19:133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta VVSR, Rovira A, Roget D (2011) Principles and management of soil biological factors for sustainable farming systems. In: Tow P, Cooper I, Partridge I, Birch C (eds) Rainfed farming systems. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 149–184

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hamblin AP (1984) The effect of tillage on soil surface properties and the water balance of a xeralfic alfisol. Soil Till Res 4(6):543–559

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillel D (1971) Soil and water: physical principles and processes. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hore HL (1940) Sand drift and control measures. J Dep Agric Vic 38:219

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt JR, Kirkegaard JA (2011) Re-evaluating the contribution of summer fallow rain to wheat yield in southern Australia. Crop Pasture Sci 62(11):915–929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt JR, Browne C, McBeath TM, Verburg K, Craig S, Whitbread AM (2013) Summer fallow weed control and residue management impacts on winter crop yield though soil water and N accumulation in a winter-dominant, low rainfall region of southern Australia. Crop Pasture Sci 64(9):922–934

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ji SN, Unger PW (2001) Soil water accumulation under different precipitation, potential evaporation, and straw mulch conditions. Soil Sci Soc Amer J 65(2):442–448

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkegaard JA, Conyers MK, Hunt JR, Kirkby CA, Watt M, Rebetzke GJ (2014) Sense and nonsense in conservation agriculture: principles, pragmatism and productivity in Australian mixed farming systems. Agric Ecosys Environ 187:133–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohnke H, Bertrand AR (1959) Soil conservation. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang RD (1979) The effect of ground cover on surface runoff from experimental plots. J Soil Conservation Serv NSW 35(2):108–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Llewellyn RS, D’Emden FH, Kuehne G (2012) Extensive use of no-tillage in grain growing regions of Australia. Field Crops Res 132:204–212

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malinda D (1995) Factors in conservation farming that reduce erosion. Aust J Exp Agric 35(7):969–978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane GC (1952) Soil management practices on north-western wheat farms. Rev Market Agr Econ 20:161

    Google Scholar 

  • Peck AJ, Williamson DR (1987) Effects of forest clearing on groundwater. J Hydrol 94:47–65

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Safa M, Samarasinghe S, Mohssen M (2010) Determination of fuel consumption and indirect factors affecting it in wheat production in Canterbury, New Zealand. Energy 35(12):5400–5405

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott BJ, Eberbach PL, Evans J, Wade L (2010) Stubble retention in cropping systems in southern Australia: benefits and challenges. Orange, NSW

    Google Scholar 

  • Trestrail C, Martin P, New R, Corrie K, Frakes I (2013) Agriculture, fisheries and forestry in the wheat belt region of Western Australia. ABARES, Canberra (Contract No.: 13.42)

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh MJ (2012) Harrington Seed Destructor—comparison with chaff carts and windrow burning systems. 2012 WA Agribusiness Crop Updates. Western Australian Agriculture Authority, Perth

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh MJ, Powles SB (2007) Management strategies for herbicide-resistant weed populations in Australian dryland crop production systems. Weed Technol 21(2):332–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ward PR (2006) Predicting the impact of perennial phases on average leakage from farming systems in south-western Australia. Aust J Agric Res 57(3):269–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward PR, Whisson K, Micin SF, Zeelenberg D, Milroy SP (2009) The impact of wheat stubble on evaporation from a sandy soil. Crop Pasture Sci 60(8):730–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward PR, Flower KC, Cordingley N, Weeks C, Micin SF (2012) Soil water balance with cover crops and conservation agriculture in a Mediterranean climate. Field Crops Res 132:33–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watt M, Kirkegaard JA, Passioura JB (2006) Rhizosphere biology and crop productivity—a review. Aust Soil Res 44(4):299–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yunusa IAM, Sedgley RH, Siddique KMH (1994) Influence of mulching on the pattern of growth and water-use by spring wheat and moisture storage on a fine textured soil. Plant Soil 160(1):119–130

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Private Bag No 5, Wembley, WA, 6913, Australia

    P. R. Ward

  2. The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia

    Kadambot H. M. Siddique

Authors
  1. P. R. Ward
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kadambot H. M. Siddique
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. R. Ward .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Farooq

  2. Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia

    Kadambot H. M. Siddique

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ward, P., Siddique, K. (2015). Conservation Agriculture in Australia and New Zealand. In: Farooq, M., Siddique, K. (eds) Conservation Agriculture. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-11620-4_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation