The potential for developing fodder plants for the salt-affected areas of southern and eastern Australia: an overview

Authors

M E. Rogers, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland SalinityFollow
A D. Craig, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
R E. Munns, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
Timothy Colmer, University of Western AustraliaFollow
P G H Nichols, Department of Agriculture, WA
C V. Malcom
E G. Barrett-Lennard, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentFollow
A J. Brown, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
W S. Semple, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources
Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
K Cowley, CSIRO
S J. Hughes, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
Richard Snowball, Department of Primary Industries and Regional DevelopmentFollow
S J. Bennett, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
G C. Sweeney, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
B S. Dear, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity
M A. Ewing, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-23-2005

Journal Title

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture

ISSN

Print: 1836-0939 Electronic: 1836-5787

Keywords

fodder, saline environments, salt-tolerant species

Disciplines

Agronomy and Crop Sciences

Abstract

This paper reviews the major issues that impact upon the development of improved fodder species for saline environments across temperate Australia. It describes past and present research that has been, or is being, undertaken towards improvements in salt tolerance in forage species within Australia in relation to the principal regions where salinity occurs. It includes a discussion on the mechanisms of salt tolerance in plants. An extensive list of known or potential salt-tolerant fodder species is provided and the key opportunities for advancement within each of the 4 major forage groups: grasses, legumes, herbs and shrubs are discussed. Constraints to developing new salt and waterlogging tolerant fodder species are identified. A number of recommendations are made for research that should ensure that Australian producers have access to a new array of productive fodder species suited to saline environments.

Recommended Citation

Rogers M. E., Craig A. D., Munns R. E., Colmer T. D., Nichols P. G. H., Malcolm C. V., Barrett-Lennard E. G., Brown A. J., Semple W. S., Evans P. M., Cowley K., Hughes S. J., Snowball R., Bennett S. J., Sweeney G. C., Dear B. S., Ewing M. A. (2005) The potential for developing fodder plants for the salt-affected areas of southern and eastern Australia: an overview. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 301-329. https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04020