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43,795,000 Yen (FY 2000; 13,833,000 Yen)
The research project aims at proposing systematic utilization of elementary techniques for rehabilitation and establishment of sustainable biological production in a desertificating area. Outcomes obtained were summarized as following: (1) Continuous monitoring of natural succession process from disturbed and cleared ground condition indicated that several species belonging to Atriplex spp., Enneapogon spp., and Halosarcia spp. were identified as pioneer plants superior to salt tolerant and drought tolerant. (2) Salt was taken up by salt tolerant plants amounted so much as 40 gram sodium per a plant to significantly reduce salt content in the rhizosphere. A coupled planting between salt-tolerant and non salt-tolerant plants named as "companion planting method" was proposed as the next step. Significantly more Acacia spp., which was legume, survived associated with Atriplex spp. for six months showed companion planting method was effective for less salt tolerant plant introduction. (3) In order to improve low fertility and high evapotranspiration, soil additives such as livestock excrement were tested to develop more useful plants. The additives were valuable to the growth of vegetables and some shrub trees. Shapes of organic materials made mainly from livestock excrement were also tested. Agricultural production could be harvested if the organic materials were set to pot shapes to concentrate into the rhizosphere. (4) In order to satisfy local benefit, basic study about sandalwood silviculture was carried out. Smoked water that solved ash and smoke of burned plant residue to water, worked for increasing the germination from less than 20% that was average in extensive silviculture to more than 80%. The technologies studied in the project were integrated to two technologies: core technologies available wherever desertification occurs, and adapting technologies available to a specific local area. Efficiently combining the two technologies, the core technologies can be applied to desertificating area as a rehabilitation plan.
Desertification Protection, Elementary Techniques, Salt Tolerant Plants, Systematization of the Techniques, Western Australia