CONTRIBUTING REPORTS
A number of reports contributed to understandings around project outcomes , including DAF monitoring reports from some of the initial project sites , a report on some soil health parameters by the University of Southern Queensland , a Griffith University report on LiDAR data from a number of project sites , and a report by Dr Christian Roth on the outcomes of a scientist , field officer , grazier review of some of the main project sites .
Summary of DAF final report conclusions for monitoring at Tabletop and Strathalbyn project and Mt Pleasant reference sites :
• Overall , most pasture parameters were not affected by grazing treatment except for litter cover . Seasonal conditions had a strong effect on pasture parameters with most increasing by October 2018 and maintaining that level until the final sampling in June 2021 .
• Neither pasture yield , ground cover , nutrient capture or PATCHKEY score were affected by grazing treatment during the monitoring period . Litter cover was significantly higher under the HRM treatment ( planned grazing at Mt . Pleasant and Tabletop stations ) compared to UHD ( at Tabletop and Strathalbyn Stations ) and ungrazed ( livestock exclusion ) treatments .
• The PATCHKEY calculated land condition rating improved across all properties with Tabletop and Mt . Pleasant having a reduction in the area of “ C ” with a resultant increase in the area of “ B ” land condition . Strathalbyn had a substantial reduction in the area of “ D ” and a resultant increase in the area of “ C ” land condition .
• Increased pasture yield , ground cover and litter cover drove the improved land condition ratings as calculated by PATCHKEY .
• The Tabletop plots were predominantly composed of Indian couch ( Bothriochloa pertusa ) and the Mt . Pleasant plots also had golden beard grass ( Chrysopogon fallax ) which supports the ground cover results . The Strathalbyn plots had equal composition of B . pertusa and annual species .
• There were no major changes in pasture composition at Tabletop and Mt . Pleasant and final pasture yields at Strathalbyn in June 2021 were very low .
• The report notes that the high proportion of Indian couch in most pastures creates sensitivity for land condition assessment using the ABCD framework .
• Tabletop and Mt . Pleasant had better resilience in pastures due to a higher composition of perennial grasses . Strathalbyn is vulnerable to decreases in land condition with poor seasons due to the high composition of annual species .
• Pasture yields increased from November 2017 to very high levels in June 2019 at the Mt . Pleasant plots due to good seasons and grazing management . The plots increased in June 2019 to very high levels and then recorded a decline to November 2020 with poorer seasonal conditions . Improving seasonal conditions resulted in an increase in pasture yields in June 2021 .
• The Strathalbyn plots were very degraded with little perennial grass and the pasture yields were very low in June 2018 . Pasture yields increased to June 2019 and then declined to very low levels in line with changing seasonal conditions .
• At Tabletop , pasture yields in the plots increased from November 2017 to very high levels in October 2018 . Good seasonal conditions prevailed for 2018 to 2019 and generated good pasture yields on all plots . High yields were maintained through 2020 and very high yields were recorded in 2021 .
• Indices for nutrient loss and nutrient capture , which relate to the ability of that land to capture 7