brookton_saltland_planting

Ballardong Noongar Country

Brookton Saltland, WA

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Seedlings Planted
Species
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Project overview

Latest news

Layers of full seedling trays on a trolley

Planting

June 2024

This winter, we returned to site to plant another 12 ha of salt-affected country. With help from the Noongar Boodja Rangers, we hand-planted 20,096 seedlings into the top of prepared planting mounds. The seedling mix included 10 native species, with salt-tolerant varieties such as Atriplex, Casuarina, and Melaleuca. We plan to return next winter to plant out any remaining areas and infill gaps.

measuring the diameter at breast height of a Melaleuca cuticularis

MONITORING

November 2023

Jess and Liv (CPOZ) returned to site to conduct the fourth-year monitoring assessment. The average density across the planting has decreased by just 4% from last year’s assessment, now at 661 trees/ha. This decrease is expected due to natural thinning as the trees mature and become more established. The average height has increased since last year by an impressive 40% to 0.81 metres.

Woman putting a seedling into a hand held tree planting device

Infill Planting

July 2022

Further infill planting was carried out in winter by the Noongar Boodja Rangers and members of the CPOZ team. Approximately 4,000 seedlings were hand-planted across the 2021 area to increase the density in patches that had suffered from waterlogging. We will return to the site later this year for the annual monitoring assessment.

Plants growing in planting rows

monitoring

April 2022

Dr Peter Ritson and the CPOZ team headed to the site in April to complete a third monitoring assessment. Results showed that the average density had increased by 28% from 2021, at 688 trees/ha. The tallest seedlings (Acacia acuminate, Cauarina obesa, and Eucalyptus loxophleba equally) were 1.2 metres.

Close up of a Eucalyptus seedling planted in a mound

Survival monitoring

October 2021

Survival monitoring of the most recent planting area (8.5ha) was conducted by the CPOZ team in October 2021. The overall survival rate was approximately 65%. There had been significant rainfall in the area and the team noted visible signs of water pooling across the site. Survival rates in these areas of the planting was very low leading to a further 3,900 seedlings ordered for infill in the patchy areas.

Group of ten people standing in a paddock holding buckets full of native seedlings and pottiputki planting devices

Planting

July 2021

Team members Jess and Alice headed to site to accept the infill seedling delivery. Along with Dr Peter Ritson, who oversaw the planting, Jess, Alice, and the Noongar Boodja Rangers planted a further 8.5 hectares of the Saltland area. A total of 15,552 seedlings were hand-planted across this new area and infilled across the 2019 and 2020 areas to increase density.

Man bending down with a measuring stick measuring the height of a seedling with a woman standing next to the man recording the data on a clipboard.

Monitoring

April 2021

Jess and Alice (CPOZ) joined Dr Peter Ritson on site to monitor the progress of the 2019 and 2020 planting areas. Evidence of pest damage (likely kangaroos) was noted and some areas showed patchy survival and health. Further infill was recommended for the coming winter. Of all species, Atriplex semibaccata (‘Berry saltbush’) exhibited the highest survival and growth rates.

Lady in orange high-vis and man with black jumper and hat holding seedlings about to be planted.

Infill planting

July 2020

During winter, approximately 6,500 seedlings were planted across the site. These new seedlings replaced those that had not survived the harsh conditions since the initial planting. Casuarina and Atriplex species formed the bulk of the planting mix as they had shown the highest survival and growth during the last monitoring assessment.

Man and a woman standing in a field looking at a notepad.

Monitoring

May 2020

Dr Peter Ritson visited the site for a comprehensive monitoring assessment to determine seedling survival and growth. Overall, survival was estimated to be around 41%, with the lower salt-tolerant species struggling the most. Unfortunately, given the below average rainfall since the time of planting, this level of mortality did not come as a surprise. Infill planting was recommended for the coming winter.

Girl wearing a white tee and flannel shirt standing in a paddock holding a clipboard and taking notes

survival monitoring

November 2019

Survival monitoring was undertaken for the initial 13,000 seedlings planted in July. Results showed survival rates ranging from 54% to 80% across the area, with an overall average of 69%. Many of the seedlings showed signs of drought stress and substantial mortality was predicted for the coming summer months. Close monitoring would be necessary and the need for infill in July was advised.

Three men standing together and smiling with seedlings buckets.

planting

July 2019

Under the expert guidance of Dr Peter Ritson (FarmWoods), the Noongar Boodja Rangers and other Wheatbelt NRM team members planted around 13,000 seedlings across the 12 hectare site. Seedlings were planted into the mounds using pottiputkis (an ergonomic tree-planting device). These handy tools make fast and comfortable work of a planting area.

Three men standing next to 2 cars in the planting area ready for site preparation.

site preparation

July 2019

Winter came around and the Wheatbelt NRM Noongar Boodja Rangers were engaged to assist with site preparation. The site was sprayed to control perennial weeds and mounded into rows. This practice reduces root system exposure to salinity and water logging as well as minimising competition to weeds, improving the likelihood of seedling survival and establishment.

Close up of seedling trays with juvenile Melaleuca and Acacia species

Species selection & orders

December 2018

As suggested, species selection incorporated a range of salt-tolerant species including Atriplex semibaccata (‘Berry saltbush’), Casuarina obesa (‘Swamp sheoak’), and Melaleuca cuticularis (‘Saltwater paperbark’). Seedlings were ordered and grown out at Parnell’s Nursery over the summer and autumn months, ready for planting in the following winter.

site assessment

November 2018

The project kicked off with an initial site assessment conducted by leading WA reforestation expert, Dr Geoff Woodall. Much of the planting area that had been selected for restoration by the landholders was visibly salt-affected. With the looming issue of saline soils and waterlogging, the assessment included recommendations for planting methodology, species selection, and ongoing site management.

What we planted

Acacia

1 species
sandalwood host
short lifespan
nitrogen fixing​

Atriplex

1 species
low-lying shrub
salt-tolerant
drought tolerant

Casuarina

1 species
salt and drought tolerant
attracts native birds
nitrogen converter

Eucalyptus

2 species
high survivability in nutrient-poor soils
fast maturing tree
utilised for canopy cover

Melaleuca

5 species
fire-adapted
salt-tolerant
tree

Project gallery