Evaluating the shifts in rainfall and pasture-growth variabilities across the pastoral zone of Australia during 1910–2010
Article
Article Title | Evaluating the shifts in rainfall and pasture-growth variabilities across the pastoral zone of Australia during 1910–2010 |
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ERA Journal ID | 5177 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Cobon, David (Author), Kouadio, Louis (Author), Mushtaq, Shahbaz (Author), Jarvis, Chelsea (Author), Carter, John (Author), Stone, Grant (Author) and Davis, Peter (Author) |
Journal Title | Crop and Pasture Science |
Journal Citation | 70 (7), pp. 634-647 |
Number of Pages | 14 |
Year | 2019 |
Publisher | CSIRO Publishing |
Place of Publication | Australia |
ISSN | 0004-9409 |
1836-0947 | |
1836-5795 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1071/CP18482 |
Web Address (URL) | https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CP18482 |
Abstract | Interannual rainfall variability in Australia is a source of risk within agricultural industries. Insights into changes to rainfall and pasture-growth variabilities are essential to inform adaptation strategies for climate risk management within the grazing industry. We investigated shifts in rainfall and pasture-growth variabilities between the periods 1910–1960 and 1961–2010 for the pastoral zone in Australia. Rainfall variability was also assessed for the high-rainfall and wheat–sheep zones. An index of variability was calculated by using gridded rainfall and pasture-growth data for both periods. The percentage change was then calculated as the difference in variation between the two periods. Overall, the variability of annual rainfall has significantly increased (P < 0.01) between the two periods for the pastoral zone. Pastoral regions in the Northern Territory had the greatest increases in pasture-growth variability, with 62–85% of the area affected by a significant increase in variability. Between the periods 1910–1960 and 1961–2010 across the wheat–sheep zone, annual rainfall variability significantly decreased (P < 0.01), with 70% of the area having a negative change, whereas for the high-rainfall zone, the variability did not change significantly. Monitoring ongoing trends in rainfall and pasture-growth variability is important to inform strategic grazing management. Management practices to mitigate the impacts of increased variability in pastoral regions are discussed. |
Keywords | climate variability, climate effects on pasture systems |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300206. Agricultural spatial analysis and modelling |
300499. Crop and pasture production not elsewhere classified | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | Centre for Applied Climate Sciences |
Queensland Environmental Protection Agency, Australia | |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q558q/evaluating-the-shifts-in-rainfall-and-pasture-growth-variabilities-across-the-pastoral-zone-of-australia-during-1910-2010
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