EVALUATION OF EUCALYPTUS-CAMALDULENSIS (RIVER GUM) AND CHAMAECYTISUS-PROLIFERUS (TAGASASTE) FOR SALINITY CONTROL BY AGROFORESTRY

Components of the soil water balance were measured over a three year p eriod for Eucalyptus camaldulenis and Chamaecytisus proliferus, specie s commonly used for revegetation in Western Australia, and compared wi th water balance components for pasture. Marked seasonal trends in eva potranspiration were observed for all species with maxima occurring in the wet months, and minima occurring in summer when rainfall was low and evaporative demand high. In each year of study, annual evapotransp iration and soil water depletions were greater for both tree species t han for the pasture, due to the greater extraction of soil water at de pth. Upward movement of water from the saturated zone was also found t o be greater beneath the deeper rooted perennials than beneath pasture .