53 BURDEKIN DRY TROPICS NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2016-2026
Soil biological functions are maintained, including:
• maintaining organic matter levels to support other physical, chemical and biological functions;
• maintaining biological capacity for nutrient cycling and a resilient physical structure; and
• avoiding populations of damaging pathogens, weeds and other pests.
Soil chemical functions are maintained, including:
• supplying nutrients in the right proportions for plant growth;
• maintaining pH that supports plant growth and soil organisms; and
• avoiding toxic levels of nutrient, trace metals and pesticides residue.
Soil physical functions are maintained, including:
• getting water into the soil with minimal runoff and erosion;
• storing plant-available water;
• maintaining a friable structure for root growth and water extraction; and
• maintaining gas permeability.
The extent of dryland salinity does not increase due to impacts from pastoral and agricultural practices.
The environment is protected from the disturbance and oxidation of acid sulfate soils, including their direct and flow-on adverse impacts.
Abandoned mines, mineral processing plants and exploration activities do not compromise community safety, the health of the surrounding environment and ecological processes, and productivity of rural land. a) Support the development and promotion of innovative methods to maintain and increase soil carbon within cropping, horticulture and grazing systems. For example: increasing ground cover; promoting plant( crop and pasture) diversity and vigour for increased rooting biomass. Maintain soil chemical and physical function.
Note: biological, chemical and physical functions are all interlinked and dependent on each other – e. g. healthy biology is very dependent on having the soil chemistry and structure in good condition.
a) Support the development, promotion and uptake of innovative and proven methods to maintain and improve soil fertility in both grazing and cropping lands.
b) Prevent the buildup of any nutrients or chemicals to toxic levels and undertake prompt remediation where required. For example: match nutrient applications with crop needs. Utilise fertilisers that are least likely to be lost from the paddock. Maintain soil pH at natural ranges or adjusted for crops as required. Maintain good biological activity for maximum nutrient cycling.
a) Promote and implement cultivation practices that minimise soil disturbance, and maintain soil fertility. For example: precision agriculture, and matching irrigation and fertiliser practices with crop needs.
b) Promote and implement grazing management practices that maintain an end-of-dry-season groundcover and minimise soil disturbance. For example: high rotation grazing, or maintaining and improving the condition and cover of long-term perennial vegetation on grazing lands, to maintain good biology activity for maximum nutrient cycling and soil structure to assist water infiltration and reduce sheet / hillslope and gully erosion.
c) Avoid, or where it is occurring, remediate gully and stream bank erosion.
a) Increase awareness and understanding of the impacts of dryland salinity, and identify and employ appropriate land uses and management practices in priority areas. For example: rehabilitate sites with saline adaptive plantings.
a) Increase awareness and understanding of where acid sulfate soils are located, their impacts, and how to avoid, mitigate and rehabilitate affected areas.
a) Support and facilitate programmes and processes to rehabilitate abandoned mines and repair ecosystem functions within our region, including using rehabilitation bonds to undertake necessary repair or maintenance work.
b) Investigate alternative ongoing productive uses for abandoned mining sites. For example: power generation or processing facilities.
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