Lake bed cropping: Wetland products (Australia)

Abstract

Lakebed cropping is cropping on the bed of a lake while it is dry. The following types of lakebed cropping are undertaken in the Murray-Darling Basin in inland south-eastern Australia. They are: (i) cropping once only following recession of floodwaters; (ii) cropping once following rainfall; (iii) cropping following reces- sion of floodwater or rainfall, followed by cultivation for a second crop; (iv) cropping between floods, with repeated cultivation to keep the ground bare between crops; (v) cropping following occasional release of water; and (vi) cropping following regular, usually annual water releases. The impacts of lakebed cropping on soil and on dryland and wetland biota depend on the type of lakebed cropping. Compared with other forms of cropping, most types of lakebed cropping in inland south-eastern Australia have low or moderate ecological impacts. The chapter concludes with recommendations for managing lakebed cropping.