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BRS SEMINAR SERIES PRESENTS:Friday 28 April 2006
Natural Sequence Farming (NSF): Beyond Australian Story
Peter Andrews — NSFGarry Reynolds — NSF
For many years Peter Andrews’ views on working with water, soil, nutrients, salinity, biodiversity, vegetation and animals have been, and still are, regarded as highly radical. However, since being profiled by the “Australian Story” programme, governments, farmers, scientists, catchment authorities and the general public have taken a keen interest in the integrated approaches he proposes to address the major challenges of landscape decline and marginalisation of farming as a business. Increasingly, Natural Sequence Farming is being examined as a mainstream option for cost-effective landscape management through the establishment of a range of trial and demonstration sites across Australia.This seminar presents some of Peter Andrews’ views and the developments that have occurred since the ground-breaking “Australian Story”.
NATURAL SEQUENCE FARMING
NATURAL SEQUENCE NATURAL SEQUENCE FARMINGFARMING
Restoring Balancein the LandscapeRestoring Restoring BalanceBalancein the Landscapein the Landscape
time
resi
lienc
e
Loss of resilienceLoss of resilienceLoss of resilience
Loss of balanceLoss of balance
! NSF! NSF
! NSF! NSF
! NSF ! NSF
" Water Availability"" Water AvailabilityWater Availability
" Vegetation cover"" Vegetation coverVegetation cover
" Water Quality"" Water QualityWater Quality
ResilienceResilience
The first step:The first step:
RecognisingRecognising where the water is kept in the landscape where the water is kept in the landscape
Unbalanced – with creeks functionally disconnected from floodplains
Unbalanced – with creeks functionally disconnected from floodplains
Landscape losing resilience
NSF is about restoring the balance
by:
NSF is about NSF is about restoring the restoring the balance balance
by:by:
Reconnecting Reconnecting naturalnatural depositional functions depositional functions
Flood plain alluvium
BedrockGroundwater and saline flows
Flood plain alluvium Groundwater and saline flows
Bedrock
Multiple Pro
blems
Government interest in NSFGovernment interest in NSF
In 2002 Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, visited Peter Andrews at Tarwyn Park In 2002 Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, In 2002 Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, visited Peter Andrews at visited Peter Andrews at TarwynTarwyn Park Park
He was amazed at what he sawHe was amazed at what he saw
He immediately commissioned the CSIRO to put together an Expert Panel to examine NSFHe immediately commissioned the CSIRO to put together an Expert Panel to examine NSF
Hunter ValleyHunter Valley
NewcastleNewcastle
Tarwyn Parkon Bylong Creek
Tarwyn Parkon Bylong Creek
Baramul Studon Widden Brook
Baramul Studon Widden Brook
What John Anderson and the scientists saw approaching Tarwyn Park’s gate
What John Anderson and the scientists saw approaching Tarwyn Park’s gate
Through the gate at Tarwyn ParkThrough the gate at Tarwyn Park
Soon the Panel reportedSoon the Panel reported
NSF had multiple benefits:NSF hadNSF had multiple benefits:multiple benefits:
" Reduced salinity and erosion"" Reduced salinity and erosionReduced salinity and erosion
" Improved water quality and availability "" Improved water quality and availability Improved water quality and availability
" Enhanced the riparian zone"" Enhanced the riparian zoneEnhanced the riparian zone
PlusPlus
A small investment, substantially increased:A A smallsmall investment, substantially increased:investment, substantially increased:
! Production
! Productivity
! Profitability
! Property value
!! ProductionProduction
!! Productivity Productivity
!! Profitability Profitability
!! Property valueProperty value
Panel RecommendationsPanel RecommendationsPanel Recommendations
" Conduct a major scientific study of NSF at
“Baramul Stud”
"" Conduct a major scientific study of NSF at Conduct a major scientific study of NSF at
““BaramulBaramul StudStud””
" Establish a range of scientifically-monitored
demonstration sites
"" Establish a range of scientificallyEstablish a range of scientifically--monitored monitored
demonstration sitesdemonstration sites
OutcomeOutcome
" The consortium includes leading scientistsfrom:
- Southern Cross University- Australian National University- Newcastle University- NSW Department of Natural Resources
in collaboration with the Hunter Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority
"" The consortium includes leading scientistsThe consortium includes leading scientistsfrom:from:
-- Southern Cross UniversitySouthern Cross University-- Australian National UniversityAustralian National University-- Newcastle UniversityNewcastle University-- NSW Department of Natural ResourcesNSW Department of Natural Resources
in collaboration with the Hunter Central Rivers in collaboration with the Hunter Central Rivers CatchmentCatchment Management AuthorityManagement Authority
" $1.5m Australian Research Council Study commenced on “Baramul Stud” in 2004
"" $1.5m Australian Research Council Study $1.5m Australian Research Council Study commenced on commenced on ““BaramulBaramul StudStud”” in 2004in 2004
But long before this….But long before thisBut long before this……..
Polish scientist Lhotsky (1834)Polish scientist Polish scientist LhotskyLhotsky (1834)(1834)
He encountered chain-of-ponds landscapes and wrote:..a phenomenon not to be found to my knowledge in any other part of the world….
20 to 200 feet in diameter ….
in an alluvial soil of a rich kind …
fed by subterraneous springs ….
He encountered chainHe encountered chain--ofof--ponds landscapes ponds landscapes and wrote:and wrote:..a phenomenon not to be found to my ..a phenomenon not to be found to my knowledge in any other part of the worldknowledge in any other part of the world……..
20 to 200 feet in diameter 20 to 200 feet in diameter ……..
in an alluvial soil of a rich kind in an alluvial soil of a rich kind ……
fed by subterraneous springs fed by subterraneous springs ……..
BedrockGroundwater and saline flows
Chain of ponds near the end of a long droughtChain of ponds near the end of a long drought
Bedrock
Resilience and balance renewedResilience and balance renewed
Groundwater and saline flows
Multiple Benefits
time
flow chain of pondschain of ponds
eroded creek
FLOWS FOLLOWING A FRESH
leaky weirleaky weir
Chain of pondsdown the valley Chain of pondsdown the valley
Leaky weirs
pool poolriffleriffle
The Natural Process …The Natural Process …
jump starting jump starting
NSF intervenes byNSF intervenes byNSF intervenes by
this sequence of natural actionsthis sequence of natural actions
Key NSF SequenceKey NSF SequenceKey NSF Sequence
1. Create landforms that mimic the chain-of-ponds and swampy meadows
1. Create landforms that 1. Create landforms that mimicmimic the the chainchain--ofof--ponds and swampy meadowsponds and swampy meadows
2. Create braided flow lines above the leaky weirs
2. Create braided flow lines above the 2. Create braided flow lines above the leaky weirsleaky weirs
3. Return the natural water management function to the clay areas
3. Return the natural water management function to 3. Return the natural water management function to the clay areasthe clay areas
rainfallrainfall
Cracking clayCracking clay
water table
4. Create a freshwater lens at the root zone 4. Create a freshwater lens at the root zone
freshwater lens
Vegetation and topsoil layers
saline groundwater
5. By cooling the landscape with the lens encourage ‘short’ water cycling
5. By cooling the landscape with the lens encourage ‘short’ water cycling
NSF can achieve multiple objectives:NSF can achieve multiple objectives:NSF can achieve multiple objectives:
" Drought-proof strategic areas of floodplains
" Drought-proof strategic areas of floodplains
" Enhance vegetation cover and combat salt
" Enhance vegetation cover and combat salt
" Cost-effectively reverse significant land degradation
"" CostCost--effectivelyeffectively reverse significant land reverse significant land degradationdegradation
" Increase farm outputs with lower cost ‘on-farm’ inputs
"" Increase farm outputs with lower cost Increase farm outputs with lower cost ‘‘onon--farmfarm’’ inputsinputs
ApplicationApplication
Reading the landscape with Reading the landscape with NSFNSF
riparianriparian
floodplainfloodplain
break of slopebreak of slope
Salty groundwater Salty groundwater
Salty groundwater
Holistic approach
uplandsuplands
The alternative to working holistically with NSF is that…
The alternative to working The alternative to working holistically with NSF is thatholistically with NSF is that……
We ignore multiple benefitsWe ignore multiple benefits
Band aid Band aid
Erosion control structure
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Signs of opportunity to restore balanceSigns of opportunity to restore balance
Past backswampsPast backswamps
Past braided floodrunnersPast braided floodrunners
Signs of a chain of ponds landscape Signs of a chain of ponds landscape
Mulwaree Ponds Mulwaree Ponds
GoulburnGoulburn
Swampy meadowSwampy meadow
Signs of a chain of ponds landscape
Signs of a chain of ponds landscape
Risk of stream incisionRisk of stream incision
Steps in implementing NSF Steps in implementing NSF for the property ownerfor the property owner
1. Consult with:1. Consult with:1. Consult with:
* * neighboursneighbours
* regulators* regulators
* * catchmentcatchment bodiesbodies
2. Read the landscape:
* how it functioned
* how to reconnect these functions
22.. Read the landscape:Read the landscape:
** how ithow it functioned functioned
* how to reconnect these * how to reconnect these functionsfunctions
3. Create small leaky weirs to:
3. 3. Create Create smallsmall leaky weirs leaky weirs to:to:
* lateral floodplain recharge through the banks of shallow ponds
* * laterallateral floodplain floodplain recharge through recharge through the banks of shallow ponds the banks of shallow ponds
* Slow and de-energise flow* Slow and de* Slow and de--energiseenergise flowflow
A resilient leaky weirA resilient leaky weir
The leaky weir and bridge after ‘1 in 10’ floodThe leaky weir and bridge after ‘1 in 10’ flood
4. Just above the leaky weirs -4. Just above the leaky weirs 4. Just above the leaky weirs --
start braided channels to:start braided channels to:start braided channels to:
* Distribute freshes to the break of slope
* Distribute freshes to the break of slope
Same channel - nine months laterSame channel - nine months later
Natural nutrientsNatural nutrients
Freshwater Lens
Valley NSF SnapshotValley NSF Snapshot
Shallow pond behind the leaky weir‘fresh’ channel‘fresh’ channel
Saline groundwater
clay
Saline groundwater
Leaky weir
Widden Brook, 1926
The site of Baramul’s leaky weirs and chain of pondsThe site of Baramul’s leaky weirs and chain of ponds
BiodiversityBiodiversity
6. Fine-tune the structures and processes6.6. FineFine--tune the structures tune the structures and processesand processes
Harvest and spread new fertilityHarvest and spread new fertility
…….from?
upstream properties
………….from?.from?
upstream upstream propertiesproperties
Resilience and fertility at Baramul StudResilience and fertility at Baramul Stud
NSF resilience and fertilityat Tarwyn Park
4 years into drought
4 years into drought
The CSIRO Expert Panel 2002The CSIRO Expert Panel 2002
At Tarwyn Park, Peter Andrews has set up
At At TarwynTarwyn Park, Park, Peter Andrews has set upPeter Andrews has set up
a successful and sustainable farming system
a successful and sustainable farming system
$1.5m Research Project at Baramul$1.5m Research Project at $1.5m Research Project at BaramulBaramul
Preliminary observations of scientists are Preliminary observations of scientists are that NSF is:that NSF is:
" Slowing flow in streambed and floodplain"" Slowing flow in streambed and floodplainSlowing flow in streambed and floodplain
" Increasing riverbank and stream vegetation"" Increasing riverbank and stream vegetationIncreasing riverbank and stream vegetation
" Increasing water availability"" Increasing water availabilityIncreasing water availability
" Producing outstanding water quality"" Producing outstanding water qualityProducing outstanding water quality
" Decreasing channel erosion"" Decreasing channel erosionDecreasing channel erosion
" Creating ecologically significant pools"" Creating ecologically significant poolsCreating ecologically significant pools
Their predictions of benefits of NSF are:Their predictions of benefitsTheir predictions of benefits of NSF of NSF are:are:
" Recovery of stream and floodplain balance"" Recovery of stream and floodplain Recovery of stream and floodplain balancebalance
" Reduced sediment and nutrient losses"" Reduced sediment and nutrient lossesReduced sediment and nutrient losses
" Reduced discharge of salt"" Reduced discharge of saltReduced discharge of salt
" Enhanced groundwater resources "" Enhanced groundwater resources Enhanced groundwater resources
" Improved base/environmental flows" Improved base/environmental flows
This presentation is only an overview.
Implementation of NSF needs to be in consultation with Peter Andrews.
This presentation is only an overview.This presentation is only an overview.
Implementation of NSF needs to be in Implementation of NSF needs to be in consultation with Peter Andrews.consultation with Peter Andrews.
Photographs and diagrams:Photographs and diagrams:* Donna & Peter Hazell* Donna & Peter Hazell* David Mason* David Mason--Jones Jones * Barb * Barb MactaggartMactaggart* Annabelle Keene* Annabelle Keene* Garry Reynolds* Garry Reynolds* David * David GoldneyGoldney* Paul Newell* Paul Newell* NSW DNR* NSW DNR* ABC* ABC--TVTV
