CSIRO investigates methods to improve farming sustainability.

Sustainable farming overview

CSIRO is identifying ways to improve farm management to help agriculture remain productive, profitable and environmentally sustainable into the future.

• 1 December 2005 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Native vegetation
• Water-use efficiency
• Dryland salinity
• Soil acidity
• Related information sheets

CSIRO is addressing a number of sustainability issues that face rural Australia including:

• declining areas of native vegetation 
• water use efficiency
• dryland salinity
• soil acidity.

Native vegetation

Declining areas of native vegetation in the rural landscape can lead to salinity, reduced water quality and less biodiversity. CSIRO is identifying ways to conserve existing native vegetation on farms and establish new areas to help mitigate these problems.

Water-use efficiency

Wiser water use is of increasing importance with growing demands on existing water resources. CSIRO is investigating a variety of ways to enhance water-use efficiency and help to farmers implement water efficient practices on their farms, while still maintaining productivity.

We are also assessing land capability and water resources in irrigated dairy regions. We then provide practical advice to the irrigation industry on the sustainable management of diminishing water resources. Our aim is to develop ways to determine best land and water use options that ensure maximum economic, environmental and social benefits.

By developing systems for more effective use of existing land and water resources, CSIRO fosters greater productivity while minimising the environmental impact on Australia’s agricultural communities.

Dryland salinity

CSIRO is helping to address dryland salinity by:

• understanding its causes
• finding ways to minimise its spread 
• restoring areas affected by it.

In particular, CSIRO is improving water management practices to prevent dryland salinity through more suitable crop, pasture and native vegetation management. We are also developing plants that can cope with higher levels of salinity.

By identifying sustainable grazing options, in particular shrubs, CSIRO also aims to provide out-of-season livestock feed in saline areas. This may improve profitability and biodiversity, and reduce salinity.

CSIRO is also researching:

• effects of high-salt intakes on feed consumption
• diet selection
• foetal development
• product quality
• differences between livestock species.

Soil acidity

Soil acidity is a major problem costing over $A1 billion every year. CSIRO is recommending the application of lime and is also developing plants that can tolerate higher levels of acidity.

In the low and medium rainfall regions of southern Australia we are looking at how shrubs can be used to stabilise soil and reduce soil acidification and salinity whilst maintaining livestock production.

Related information sheets

• Acid soils - a ticking time bomb? information sheet
• Beneficial bacteria beat water repellency information sheet
• CropMan - improving crop production in Western Australia information sheet
• Deep and meaningful information sheet
• Fertiliser after the drought information sheet
• GrassGro - matching management goals with land capability information sheet
• GrazFeed - managing the nutrition of sheep and cattle information sheet
• Canola for grain and grazing information sheet
• Roots and bugs unearthed information sheet
• Surviving a frosty reception information sheet
• Tactics for hostile soils information sheet
• Bacteria boosted wattles help 're-green' Australia information sheet