PDS WA - Implementation of Producer Demonstration Sites to increase research adoption and practice change in the Kimberly and Pilbara

Summary

Since the 1960s Australia has experienced a relatively rapid decline in the health of many of its indigenous trees (Day, 1981; Wylie et al., 1993; Keane et al., 2000).  During the mid 1960s an interesting change in pasture plants on our family farm was also observed.  This change consisted of yellowing of the plants.  These observations later extended to noticing similar changes in other plants, shrubs and native species in our local area.  After years of observation, it became apparent that there may be a correlation with certain weather conditions, which caused dew, as opposed to rain, influencing the health of plants. Dew is a much understudied aspect of precipitation not just in Australia but globally.  There is minimal chemical data available on the composition of dew, compared to that which is available for the composition of rain.