Spatial modelling of dryland salinization potential in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

The goal of the project discussed in this paper is to produce small-scale maps of dryland salinization potential for Victoria, Australia; maps which putatively identify areas where salinization effects might be expected to worsen or where effects have yet to become evident. This paper assumes: (a) that current stream salinity levels can be modelled empirically using a relationship reported by Greig and Devonshire (1981), and (b) that a subset of these levels are indicative at an early stage of the maximum long-term severity (meaning extensiveness) of proximate dryland salinization should water-tables rise. This paper uses computer induction to relate modelled stream salinity to observed salinization and hence to dryland salinization potential.

Rehabilitation of degraded dryland ecosystems – review

“…Some of the relevant issues presented in the literature which could be used in a cost-benefit analysis include: the economic case for government intervention and the overall cost of dryland degradation (Kirby and Blyth 1987;Beresford 2001;Roberts and Pannell 2009;Graham et al 2010), spatial modelling and identification of dryland areas affected by salinization (Graham 1992;Ive et al 1992;Horwood 1994;Kirkby 1996;Furby et al 2010), farmers and community perceptions about the salinization problem and the proposed alternatives (Greiner 1997;Hartley et al 1998;Kington et al 2003;Khan et al 2008;Kingwell et al 2008); landscape or river basin management options (Greiner 1998;Callow 2011Callow , 2012, modelling of on-farm management alternatives and economic trade-offs (John et al 2005;Cheng et al 2009;Finlayson et al 2010;Graham et al 2010), reintroduction of native trees and shrubs (Schofield 1992;Dorrough and Moxham 2005;Thrall et al 2005), and the effects of dryland degradation on human health (Jardine et al 2007(Jardine et al , 2008a(Jardine et al , 2008b(Jardine et al , 2011Speldewinde et al 2009Speldewinde et al , 2011.…”