Many landholders are realising the value of saltbush within their farming systems. Saltbush will grow on most soil types in low to moderate rainfall areas and provides opportunities for landholders to increase production on low performing country.

Saltbush has been planted on saline areas but landholders are now planting saltbush on low productive areas such as sandy hilltops, and sandy areas of paddocks to reduce wind erosion as well as on hillsides to reduce water erosion.

Saltbush also help to: provide feed to fill the autumn feed-gap; improve drought risk management; provide protection for livestock; increase the overall carrying capacity; defer grazing of regenerating pastures and reduce recharge of rainfall to groundwater.

Once the decision to plant saltbush has been made then careful planning and preparation is required. Planting should be carried out soon after the main crop has been sown as this will enable the saltbush time to establish before summer.

The density of the plants will vary depending on the paddock management and the type of saltbush selected. Some landholders are planting saltbush at 4 metre x  4 metre spacings while other landholders are planting saltbush at 1 to 2 metres apart along the row and 3-5metres between the rows. Sowing saltbush at 2 or 4 rows and then leaving a gap will allow for machinery access.

Saltbush can be established by seedlings or direct seeding. Planting of seedlings is usually the more reliable method. On hard soils the rows should be ripped before planting.

The alignment rows of saltbush on wind erosion prone land should be, where practicable at right angles to the prevailing winds.

As saltbush seedlings will not tolerate waterlogging conditions they should be planted in mounded rows. Fertiliser is recommended especially when planting in low fertility sites such as sandy soils.

Saltbush alone does not supply a balanced diet for livestock. Pastures sown between the saltbush rows will provide extra grazing and balance the diet. Pastures sown between the rows will also provide a soil surface cover and an added benefit of erosion control.

A light grazing at twelve months will promote a bushy growth habit. In later grazings remove stock when most of the leaf material from the shrubs has been eaten. Regular grazing once or twice a year produces the highest quality fodder and prevents the shrubs from becoming too woody. Overgrazing or continuous grazing will damage the shrubs and reduces their life span.

Fresh water should be available for livestock grazing saltbush.

There are a number of nurseries that supply saltbush and there are a number of contractors that will plant saltbush. These should be booked up now to reduce delay.

AUTHOR: Andrew Harding, Senior Soil & Land Management Consultant, Rural Solutions SA
CONTACT: Andrew Harding, Rural Solutions SA Clare office, Telephone: 08 8842 6231, Email: harding.andrew@saugov.sa.gov.au

PHOTO: Courtesy Wolford and Marie Parsons, Port Vincent