All in Salinity

Innovative techniques for managing multiple threats to high value aquatic systems

superuser — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:32:09 +0000

The key element of this project involves the landscape-scale (1,500 ha) manipulation of water regimes on Dowd Morass in the Gippsland Lakes. Dowd Morass is subject to an inappropriate water regime, having been flooded more-or-less permanently since the mid 1970s despite it having probably experienced annual draw down and a dry period every 2-5 years under natural conditions in earlier times before river regulation and catchment development. It is subject also to chronic salinisation from saline intrusions from the oceanic Gippsland Lakes, nutrient enrichment, acid-sulfate soils and a limited amount of weed infestation.

IDs and People

Program:

Environmental Water Allocation

Program Theme:

National River Contaminants

Environmental water allocation in poorly understood aquatic ecosystems across Australia

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

UTV2

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

UMO41

Host Organisation:

Victoria University of Technology and Monash University

Researchers:

Dr Paul Boon

Dr Paul Bailey

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Water (General)

Keywords:

aquatic systems

Project Information

Summary:

There is a distressing lack of documentation on the impacts of altered hydrology on ecological and economic sustainability of wetlands, and little consensus on the best ways to re-introduce a more natural water regime to high-value wetlands in particular. Moreover, there is a serious lack of quantitative data available on the effectiveness of reintroducing a more natural water regime on wetland structure, function and values which this project aims to address.

Outcomes:

Quantify primary and secondary impacts among multiple ecological threats in terms of species, communities and ecosystem scale effects upon a high value aquatic system
Assess the effectiveness of various restoration/ rehabilitation strategies, including hydrological manipulation, fish exclusion and active revegetation on an ecosystem threatened by multiple impacts
Determine the most effective spatial and temporal scales on which to base management decisions in order to ensure ecological sustainability of aquatic systems
Embed these studies within a rigorous and genuine adaptive management strategy in accordance with approved management plans, closely coordinated with relevant management agencies and linked with community and stakeholder groups
Integrate the outputs of these four objectives into the development of a case study handbook that is widely transferable and can be used by managers to guide the management of aquatic environments subjected to multiple ecological threats

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Location

Locations:

Dowd Morass

The Gippsland Lakes

Successfully managing saline watertables to realise production and environment synergies

superuser — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:12:32 +0000

‘Strategic tree planting’ is the story Yass farmer John Ive and his family want to tell. After moving to the Yass Valley near Canberra, John transformed ‘Talaheni’ from a run down grazing property into a productive farm with increased production and environmental values.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Researchers:

John Ive

Subjects

Subjects:

Innovation

Landscape Management

Salinity

Keywords:

Groundwater

Tree planting

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

‘Twenty years ago saline seeps were common, pastures poor and in decline, and erosion sites active. With a combination of approaches, starting with strategic tree planting, the worst of the salinity has been rehabilitated and groundwater over substantial areas is declining’ says John.

‘It’s been a long process, but along the way I’ve learned some valuable lessons - about the need to read the landscape and appreciate the processes, to keep detailed records and to be proactive’.

With support from the Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship, John will create a website documenting his management of saline watertables to realise production and environmental synergies with 22 years of diaries, photographs and data.

Since winning his Land & Water Australia Community Fellowship John Ive and his family have won: the 2004 NSW/ACT Regional Achievers Award; were nominees for the 2003-04 National Landcare Awards; winners of won the CPA Australia Triple Bottom Line Award and received a Commendation in the Award for Outstanding Service to the Environment at the United Nations Association of Australia World Environment Day Awards in June 2004; and winners of the 2003 NSW Telstra CountryWide Landcare Research Award.

John has also been a guest speaker at Land & Water Australia’s Science in the Paddock Breakfast Briefings (number four).

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

The Seekamp collection 2002

superuser — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:12:40 +0000

Born and bred in Renmark, Jack Seekamp has worked a fruit block, run a company and lectured at University all the while making notes, taking photographs and keeping an eye on the Murray.

As long ago as the 1940’s he raised concerns about salt levels, then in 1967, he produced a landmark home video ‘Salt in the Murray Valley’.

Jack’s vast records have been described as ‘virtual goldmine for environmental scientists’ which is ‘priceless and irreplaceable’.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

Community Fellows

Research Type:

Community Fellow

Researchers:

Jack Seekamp

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Water (General)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

murray river

2002 2003 Community Fellow

Project Information

Summary:

Born and bred in Renmark, Jack Seekamp has worked a fruit block, run a company and lectured at University all the while making notes, taking photographs and keeping an eye on the Murray.

As long ago as the 1940’s he raised concerns about salt levels, then in 1967, he produced a landmark home video ‘Salt in the Murray Valley’.

Jack’s vast records have been described as ‘virtual goldmine for environmental scientists’ which is ‘priceless and irreplaceable’.

Now Jack wants to open his collection and share the spoils of his efforts, transcribing notes, scanning photos from more than 60 picture books and preserving and editing his 1967 masterpiece.

He is already well on the way to doing just that. But ‘I am only a one-finger typist’ says Jack. ‘Freeing me from the computer will enable me to update the picturebooks, get the Super 8 movie film copied and edited, and sort and select the older material for preservation’.

Land & Water Australia will support Jacks ambition to properly archive his personal documentary of the Murray River, so others can learn from his experience.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Interactive effects of salinity and water regime on ecologically significant waterplants

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:04:29 +0000

Aquatic vegetation is represented by a variety of growth forms, including floating, submerged, amphibious, emergent and semi-terrestrial taxa. The persistence of these growth forms in aquatic habitats is strongly influenced by water regime; long-term flooding favours submerged species and excludes most emergent species whereas alternation in wetting and drying may allow both to persist. The artificial homogenisation of naturally fluctuating water regimes and secondary salinisation are major contributing factors to the loss of plant biodiversity in wetlands worldwide. However, the interactive effect of these processes remains poorly quantified.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

PhD Students

Research Type:

PhD Student

LWA Project Code:

002366

Host Organisation:

Monash University

Researchers:

Jacqueline Salter

Subjects

Subjects:

Innovation

Salinity

Catchment Management

Project Information

Summary:

Modification of natural flooding and drying cycles is recognised as one of the most severe threats to wetland plant biodiversity. Chronic flooding favours submerged wetland plant species and excludes most emergent species whilst seasonal fluctuations generally allow the greatest diversity of plant types to persist. In addition to experiencing changes to their hydrology, many Australian wetlands are also threatened by increased salinity. Salinity may impair a plant’s ability to tolerate changes to water regime. My project examines how salinity may alter the response of wetland plants with contrasting growth forms to water regime. I focus on two common Australian wetland plants with contrasting growth forms; the wetland tree Swamp paperbark (Melaleuca ericifolia) and the submerged wetland macrophyte, Ribbonweed (Vallisneria australis). By exploring the response and tolerance range of different life history stages of both species to the interactive effect of water regime and salinity, I aim to predict the persistence of these species under a number of management scenarios. This research will provide information on water regimes appropriate for fresh and saline conditions that would promote the persistence of a diverse community of aquatic plants.

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Salinity processes in Lake Eyre Basin Rivers

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:56:05 +0000

Elizabeth’s research is aimed at understanding the natural processes that control salt and water exchange between surface and groundwater environments in arid zones. This is being achieved through field investigation of the large rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin, located in central Australia. There is very little known about the rivers of the Lake Eyre Basin, so the project is heavily field based and a total of five field campaigns have been undertaken. The field campaigns involved drilling soil bores and installing groundwater monitoring wells (piezometers), sampling the river water and groundwater, and preparing water and soil samples for laboratory analysis.

IDs and People

Program:

Innovation

Program Theme:

PhD Students

Research Type:

PhD Student

LWA Project Code:

002619

Host Organisation:

University of Melbourne

Researchers:

Elizabeth Irvine

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Rivers and Wetlands

Project Information

Summary:

Salinity processes in Lake Eyre Basin Rivers

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Adaptive learning through five strands of root-zone knowledge

superuser — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:36:29 +0000

This project will demonstrate how the collection of five independent strands of irrigation data via a novel sensor and logging platform will link irrigator experience with measured data, link atmospheric scheduling with soil based monitoring, and link water management with solute management.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CIF5033

Host Organisation:

CSIRO

Researchers:

Richard Stirzaker

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Irrigation

Keywords:

electrical conductivity

Root-zone

Adaptive management

irrigation scheduling

Project Information

Outcomes:

Pioneer a different approach to irrigation management by linking grower knowledge with scientific data within an adaptive learning framework at seven sites
Provide new insights into irrigation management by linking atmosphere and soil based monitoring and by linking water and solute monitoring
Work alongside the private sector to develop the sensing and logging platform fit for commercial development and release.
Capture the above in a training module to be incorporated into the CRC “Solute Signatures” initiative and ensure all project participants attend training workshops or are involved in the development of the training module

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Background

Project Background:

The project rationale is to link five strands of knowledge that have traditionally been treated separately into an adaptive learning framework. The five strands are:

The knowledge of the irrigator based on accumulated experience
Potential crop water use as the thermodynamic limit to irrigation
Soil water status monitoring
Depth of wetting front penetration
Electrical conductivity at the wetting front

Aims:

To pioneer an adaptive learning framework for improving irrigation management
To engage the private sector to develop and build a prototype sensing and logging platform to collect the necessary data for the adaptive learning process
To deploy the sensing platform at seven locations in conjunction with local expert practitioners
To develop and deliver a training module in conjunction with the “solute signatures” initiative.

Managing soil salinity for wine quality in groundwater-irrigated vineyards

superuser — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:53:51 +0000

This project, using the Padthaway district as a case study will produce strategies to adapt (with time) the crop production system to the prevailing soil & climatic conditions, groundwater flow & quality regime and irrigation technology to achieve premium wines that continue to meet world food health standards and hence ensure export growth.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

CIF5121

Host Organisation:

SA Research & Development Institute (SARDI)

Researchers:

Michael McCarthy

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Irrigation

Keywords:

Groundwater

rootzone

vines

rootstock

Project Information

Outcomes:

New practices for managing root zone salinity and protecting soil structure
Recommendations on salt excluding rootstocks for quality grape growing by informed and confident growers in the Limestone Coast region and other similar situations nationally
An integrated approach for sustainable, groundwater-based irrigated crop production systems that is tailored to the regional hydro-geology, soil types and crop production, demonstrated in a real-life example that is potentially applicable to other ground-water based horticultural regions

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Background

Project Background:

About 50% of Australia’s vineyards are irrigated with groundwater. Many groundwater basins have been overcommitted due to irrigation expansion and now feature steadily rising water salinity. Precision (drip) irrigated vineyards at nearly 100% WUE has the added disadvantage of rapid build-up of root zone salinity. The wine produced in those areas has started to exceed the Sodium Chloride (NaCl) permissible threshold for export markets. The $3 billion wine export is potentially at risk of being discredited for health reasons

Aims:

Component 1: Hydro-geology scenarios for the Padthaway district

Review previous work undertaken by DWLBC (2005) and subsequently and Aquaterra (2007)
Develop a district groundwater model with allowance for solute transport from the unsaturated zone
Integrate the outcomes of the study component 2 and 3 and any special requirements from component 4 into the future groundwater scenarios.

Components 2 & 3: Root zone salinity management and soil structure decline

Quantify the effect of 10 years of drip irrigation on the soil salinity build-up and soil structure decline in a long term CSIRO rootstock trial site in the Orlando Wyndham‘s Lawson vineyard.
Compare the current soil properties at the Lawson site with those determined by CSIRO L&W in the 1990’s and Wetherby (2005). (CSIRO in-kind comprehensive soils data from rootstock trial at Orlando Wyndham’s Lawson vineyard eg EC1:5, pH, cation and anions in soil solution).
Develop management options for reducing root zone salinity by using Hydrus 3-D model of salinisation processes in drip-irrigated vineyards, especially on Padthaway soil types.
Initiate field trials to validate the identified root zone management tools and techniques for reducing root zone salinityIn partnership with industry, establish a network of monitoring sites for soil salinity and grape juice quality in the Padthaway, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Mount Benson districts of the Limestone Coast GIC.
Determine regional trends in soil salinity and winegrape performance in those districts
Determine guidelines for minimising the effect of soil salinity on wine quality based on outcomes of field experiments, literature review and monitoring
Pro-actively communicate via workshops and published information the project progress and outcomes to the Limestone Coast regional and national viticulture industries.

Component 4: Rootstock selection for premium grape growing

This component comprises the existing GWRDC project CSP 06/05 “Grape juice composition and sensory quality of wine from salt excluding rootstocks and characterisation of the chloride exclusion mechanism”.

Impact of Minimal Vineyard Irrigation Strategies on Soil and Plant Sustainability

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:06:59 +0000

The techniques developed by Clarke (2003) will be used to quantify and then model (eg using LEACHM & VineLOGIC) the long-term impact of irrigation with moderately saline irrigation water using a range of drip application techniques in combination with different surface soil management approaches on soil chemical & physical properties, plant physiological performance and wine grape quality through wine and analytical assessment.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

USQ9

Host Organisation:

University of Southern Queensland on behalf of the CRCIF

Researchers:

Andrew Sanderson

Rick Darroch

Matthew Durack

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Soils

Primary Industries

Irrigation

Keywords:

Land Management

rainfall

Wine

Project Information

Outcomes:

Practical vineyard management options that:

maximise vineyard water use efficiency
minimise long-term vine rootzone salinisation under precision irrigation application techniques.
enable wine grape growers to confidently grow grapes to winery specification using environmentally sustainable production systems

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Environmental pressures such as salinity and prolonged drought condition in the Murray Darling Basin have created a widespread recognition that irrigated water consumption has to be reduced to an environmentally sustainable level. Recently developed irrigation techniques such as drip irrigation and RDI have achieved widespread adoption and there are now about 100,000 ha of drip /micro systems irrigated vineyard in Australia. The winegrape industry is aiming to further improve WUE through other management techniques such as the use of surface mulch, Partial Rootzone Drying, subsurface drip irrigation and sophisticated soil water monitoring technologies.

There is some evidence that reducing the irrigation volume through precision irrigation techniques may have long-term negative impacts. In low rainfall areas where winter leaching is not sufficient, reduced irrigation could result in excessive salt accumulation in the root zone and also impact on soil properties, eventually compromising vineyard health and economic sustainability. A number of alternatives to the traditional drip irrigation approach of a lateral line suspended on a wire about 30 cm above the soil surface have been proposed in an effort to reduce soil structural decline and rootzone salinisation. Subsurface drip irrigation may provide potential benefits in situations where moderately saline water is used for vineyard irrigation such as in the lower reaches of the Murray Darling Basin.

Aims:

Quantify the soil salinity profile under a range of irrigation application & soil management practises in a wine grape vineyard in the lower reaches of the River Murray at Langhorne Creek SA.
Assess the effectiveness of winter rainfall in leaching accumulated salts from vine rootzones irrigated with differing irrigation application systems.
Determine the effects of these management practices on crop water use, vine performance and winegrape quality.
Develop simple predictive models to test and identify a range of management scenarios that will minimise vine rootzone salinisation without significantly increasing vineyard irrigation requirement.

Root Zone Water, Salinity and Nutrient Management Under Precision Irrigation

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:01:39 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

SRD8

Host Organisation:

ACTION Salinity and Water

Researchers:

Dr Tapas Biswas

Subjects

Subjects:

Irrigation

Salinity

Soils

Monitoring and Assessment

Keywords:

Salinity Management

aquatic nutrients

Data and Information

Project Information

Summary:

The SRD8 project has an ongoing commitment to the development of salinity risk management strategies and tools designed to limit the damaging effects of salinity in the root zone, a fact that is most clearly represented by the establishment of 20 trial sites distributed through a range of growing conditions in SA, NSW and VIC.

Tapas Biswas, kneeling at centre, and SARDI researchers working with growers to achieve highly effecient water use and minimise root zone salinity. Photo: SARDI

Outcomes:

In order to develop a salinity and nutrient management strategy for irrigated Horticulture the SRD8 project has been collecting data from 20 field sites across NSW, VIC and SA growing irrigated citrus, grapevines and tree nuts on different soils (often more clayey) and a range of water salinity regimes.

Real time data is being collected on irrigation and its system management, climate, chemical application, soil moisture and solution chemistry as well as plant nutrition and yield. These data are forming a valuable repository to underpin seasonal trends in water use efficiency WUE, deep percolation (leaching fraction), salt leaching and its efficiency, nutrient movement within the root zone and plant’s response to salt.

Data are also used for the calibration of the popular field water use model IRES (Irrigation Recording and Evaluation System), Van Genuchten-Darcy model for deep drainage estimation and solute transport models e.g., LEACHM-TRANSPORT and Hydrus).

In particular, this project includes the application of the DEP15 measuring and modelling techniques to surface and subsurface irrigated vines and citrus including citrus grown with advanced fertigation (e.g., Open Hydroponics) which may have a higher risk of water escape and nutrient leaching from the active rootzone. This involves comparative assessment of water, salt and nutrient movement between conventional and advanced fertigation systems.

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Background

Project Background:

Horticulture within the Murray Darling Basin other parts of Australia is facing one of its toughest tests of balancing improved water use efficiency and salt leaching since irrigation commenced in the late 1800’s. Growers need strategies to manage their crops under conditions of reduced water allocations together with the anticipated increase of irrigation salinity in future years.

Building on the Tri-State salinity project (DEP15), the SRD 8 project “Root Zone Water, Salinity and Nutrient Management under Precision Irrigation” aims to address these issues with particular reference to irrigated horticulture in the lower Murray regions.

Aims:

The main objective of this new SRD8 project is to develop a salinity management strategy by including additional field studies on citrus orchards and vineyards on different soils (often more clayey) and high salinity water regimes.

Delivering Sustainability through Risk Management

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:52:24 +0000

This project was designed to achieve an improved level of adoption of ecological risk assessment and risk management methods in the Australian irrigation industry and in regulatory agencies. Adoption of risk-based approaches is considered to be vital if the industry is to achieve its goal of long-term sustainability.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

UMO45

Host Organisation:

Monash University

Researchers:

Prof Barry T Hart

Subjects

Subjects:

Monitoring and Assessment

Landscape Management

Salinity

Soils

Water (General)

Catchment Management

Irrigation

Keywords:

Policy

Information Management

Project Information

Outcomes:

The National Program for Sustainable Irrigation established an Ecological Risk Assessment framework for assessing the ecological risks associated with Australian irrigation systems. This new decision support tool should assist the Australian irrigation industry in quantifying and prioritising the ecological risks from their activities, and also to better focus their management actions to minimize these risks.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

The adoption of risk-based approaches is considered to be vital if the industry is to achieve its goal of long-term sustainability. This project is a logical extension of an earlier NPSI project (UMO40) that developed an Ecological Risk Assessment framework for the Australian irrigation industry (Hart et al., 2005).

Aims:

To extend the development and knowledge management of the Irrigation Ecological Risk Assessment project to allow the protocols to be adopted nationally
To trial in 4 irrigation regions and provide training courses to foster adoption.
To engage with planning authorities and regulators at regional, state and Commonwealth levels as an input into policy development and application.

Long term sustainability of precision irrigation

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:46:58 +0000

There is now strong evidence of serious soil structural decline under precision irrigation, but practical tools to identify the conditions for this degradation are not yet available. We will identify a range of paired (precision-irrigated / non-irrigated) texture-contrast soils in vineyards across the Barossa Valley and assess the impact of this irrigation on soil properties important for root growth and water uptake.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

UAD25

Host Organisation:

University of Adelaide

Researchers:

Dr Robert Murray

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Soils

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

soil types

Precision Irrigation

Soil Degradation

Project Information

Outcomes:

Initial work in the project has been at 18 sites within 8 vineyards. Water quality is generally good; only 4 of these sites have been irrigated with moderately saline water (EC >2dS/m). Infiltration rates were generally poor. Two thirds of the sites were below 2 mm/hour and more than one quarter were less than 0.4 mm/hr. The rates midway between, and directly under drippers were similar in 60% of cases. Otherwise they were much larger midway between the drippers.

Penetration resistance measured in the laboratory at field capacity (–10 kPa) was generally high with an average value of 1.1 MPa. At the 4 salt-affected sites, penetration resistance was 26% greater between drippers. At the other 14 sites, penetration resistance was 29% greater under drippers. Field penetration resistance 24-48 hours after irrigation was assessed at 35 points in 2 vineyards. In Vineyard 1, only 7% of measurements were below 1 MPa while 38% were above 2 MPa. In Vineyard 2, 80% of measurements were above 2 MPa and 40% were above 4 MPa. Air-filled porosity at field capacity (–10 kPa) was also poor. Two thirds of the samples studied were below 5% and almost all were below 10%. Air-filled porosity was generally greater (by about 50%) midway between drippers.

Current Activities

Status:

Active

Current Activities:

With the wide adoption of drip irrigation to conserve water it’s important that we get it right. Research preceding this project suggested that the concentration of water that occurs immediately beneath drippers may cause serious subsoil structural decline.

The project embarked on a close comparison of subsoil structure under, and far away from drippers at vineyards in the but this work revealed no dramatic differences. However, as application rates in the Barossa Valley are usually less than 1 ML/ha, we have recently gathered similar data in and around Mildura and propose to do the same near Griffith shortly; at both locations water quality is good and application rates are much higher (5-10 ML/ha). The work in the Barossa Valley did however disclose universally poor subsoil structure in the 10 vineyards examined. In practically all cases drainage was poor, aeration was very poor, and mechanical resistance to root growth was high. Such adverse subsoil conditions point to a pressing need for improved preparation for permanent plantings and ongoing management of subsoil structure.

The alternative will be shallow-rooted plants dependent on frequent irrigation for survival; this is not consistent with the current need to maximize water use efficiency. We are in the process of confirming this hostility to root growth via root length density measurements on intact soil cores taken from the same locations. We are also pursuing study sites where more “heroic” and careful soil preparation has preceded planting.

Background

Project Background:

Precision irrigation, particularly drip irrigation, is used extensively in Australian vineyards to conserve water but there are soil related issues that may influence its long-term sustainability. Although real application rates (ML/ha) may be relatively low, the concentrated nature of precision irrigation causes subsoil beneath emitters to be wet for extended periods. When seen in relation to local rainfall, these artificial increases in the concentration of water have the potential to degrade soil structure. The quality of irrigation water is a further issue.

Decreasing availability of water for irrigation inevitably leads to compromises in water quality. Irrigation with saline water increases soil sodicity which can cause serious soil structural decline. This project aims to assess the extent of these problems in the Barossa Valley, to establish the roles of soil type and irrigation water in causing them, to quantify the vulnerability of soils to them and to develop and test management strategies to minimize and reverse them.

Aims:

To establish the roles of soil type, irrigation water quality, amount of applied precision irrigation and methods of application of precision irrigation (e.g. pulse versus continuous) in soil degradation.
To quantify the vulnerability of soils, in combination with various water qualities, to degradation under precision irrigation using a ‘hazard rating’.
To develop and test management strategies to minimize and reverse soil degradation under precision irrigation.
To prepare, with LWA editorial and publishing support, a grower-friendly guideline on best management practices for the industries using precision irrigation to reduce irrigation induced soil structure decline, and identification of any trade-offs between best management practices for soil structure, nutrients, pesticides and root zone salinity.
To provide technical support to a separate project team charged with interpreting the projects findings for other climatic zones and commodities.
To communicate new findings and additional outcomes to policy makers (SA, Vic, NSW, MDBC, NWC).

Location

State & NRM Region:

South Australia

Locations:

Barossa Valley

Tri-State Project - Impact of Salinity on Horticulture in the Lower Murray

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:40:13 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

DEP15

Host Organisation:

Department of Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation S.A.

Researchers:

Dr Gerrit Schrale

Subjects

Subjects:

Water (General)

Catchment Management

Field Crops and Horticulture

Irrigation

Salinity

Soils

Keywords:

aquatic nutrients

crops

Project Information

Summary:

The project, started in November 2003 and to finish in early 2007, is split into two stages and deliverables are spread over agreed milestones.

Stage 1: Specific tasks and main deliverables for Stage 1 are:

A detailed literature review of the salinity relationships for the commonly grown crops (grape, citrus, stone fruit, melon and vegetables) in the Lower Murray region;
Identify the knowledge gap in salinity relationships;
Explore the salinity implications of the leaching efficiency and its variance and prepare a focussed plan for field studies; and
Develop a framework for the economic assessment of the salinity hazard.

Stage 2: As a follow up of stage 1, the original project submission listed the following three main activities for stage 2:

Use chloride as a natural tracer in the soil profiles at suitable field sites (where the season’s irrigation practices have been recorded) to estimate leaching efficiency and its variance;
Use the models ‘VineLOGIC’ and ‘Swagman’ (for Citrus) to simulate salinity inputs versus outputs on selected vineyards and orchards; and
Assess the implications of the project outcomes in relation to the salinity and drainage management strategies.

The original submission identified that stage 1 findings may lead to revision of the stage 2 field investigations. It is now proposed that the stage 2 investigations also include field experimentation for measuring and subsequent modelling of the soil-water-plant-atmosphere transport processes.

An economic analysis was carried out on this project, looking at the following benefits: productivity and profitability; environmental; and social. Download economic analysis.

Outcomes:

The project is substantially improving our understanding of leaching efficiency and the amount of water required as a leaching fraction. The results of the project will inform the new NPSI project Root zone water, salinity and nutrient management under precision irrigation (SRD8).

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Irrigated horticulture in the Lower Murray (Riverland-Sunraysia) region contributes a ‘gate-value’ of about $ 2.5 billion a year to the national economy. As a consequence of improved irrigation practices over the years, there is a risk emerging of a salinity build-up in the root zone, threatening the sustainability of this region. During the past two decades the water use efficiency (WUE) of irrigated horticulture in this region has gradually increased from about 50 to 80% as a consequence of improved irrigation systems and management. With the objective to manage the irrigation impact on the river water quality and health of the floodplains, the River Murray Catchment Water Management Board introduced an 85% target of WUE in the current Water Allocation Plan.

In the Lower Murray Region the irrigation water salinity is typically about 0.4 dS m-1 and with 15% leaching the average salinity (ECe) in the root zone should be around 0.6 dS m-1. However field surveys indicate that the root zone salinity is often greater than 1.3 dS m-1 with considerable variance. In order to understand and manage this salinity hazard, a ‘Tri-State Salinity’ syndicate of Government agencies from western NSW, Victoria and South Australia (with support from federal agencies) was formed to undertake laboratory and field scale studies for irrigated horticulture in this region.

Aims:

To determine the salinity relationships for irrigated horticulture along the lower Murray: Riverland, Sunraysia and NSW
Determine the variance of EC (soil water) in the field under known soil conditions and irrigation management
Simulate the performance of the main crops under different scenarios of river salinity at Morgan
Provide input to the implementation of the Salinity Strategy and Integrated Catchment Management Plan of the Murray-Darling Basin and the Living Murray initiative.

Location

State & NRM Region:

New South Wales

Victoria

Locations:

Lower Murray

Riverland

Sunraysia

Changing Irrigation Systems and Management in the Harvey Irrigation Area

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:30:24 +0000

Project DAW45 was conducted over the Harvey irrigation seasons 2003-04 and 2004-05. Seasons in Harvey are relatively consistent extending usually from October to May.

The project was conducted in two stages to ensure adequate consideration of the issues and planning for the case study, along with integration with other related research work, prior to the commencement of the case study.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Research Type:

Research Project

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

DAW45

Host Organisation:

Boorara Management

Researchers:

Ken Moore

Subjects

Subjects:

Salinity

Soils

Primary Industries

Water (General)

Irrigation

Keywords:

Sustainability

agronomy

farm productivity

centre pivot

Project Information

Outcomes:

The Project has demonstrated, in a two-year on-farm case study during 2003-04 and 2004-05, that water savings can be achieved along with increased pasture production and better quality pasture through centre pivot irrigation. Associated with the economic benefits were minimal water and nutrient run-off thereby contributing to the sustainability of irrigation in the Harvey Water Irrigation Area.

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

The essence of Project DAW45 evolved from the initial idea of an on-farm trial comparing centre pivot and surface irrigation; to a demonstration case study of the comparative performance of pivot and surface irrigation; to recognition that the greatest benefits will accrue to farmers and the HWIA by improving the performance of both centre pivot and existing surface irrigation.

Aims:

Bring innovation to irrigation systems and agronomy on-farm in the South West Irrigation Area that will increase water use efficiency and farm productivity, and reduce ecological impacts through factors such as water and nutrient seepage to the water table, downstream nutrient run-off and soil structural problems.
Demonstrate and document a model of integrated R&D and knowledge management through a strategic alliance that is capable of achieving sustainable irrigation on-farm and extended across the broader farming community and irrigation area with lessons.
Develop a learning and information exchange strategy to provide opportunities for SWIA irrigators to learn from other Australian irrigation areas and industries.
Demonstrate the energy efficiencies and overall energy balance of a pressurised gravity-fed piped system of irrigation water delivery.

Location

State & NRM Region:

Western Australia

Locations:

Harvey Irrigation Area

Open Hydroponics: Risks and opportunities

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:19:17 +0000

An open hydroponic system (OHS) is a continuous method of supplying a crop’s water and nutrient needs in a very precise way. Unlike traditional soiless media hydroponic systems, in the open field hydroponic system the soil is used as the medium in which the plant grows and its primary function is to provide the support structure to anchor the plant and accommodate its root system.

IDs and People

Program:

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation

Legacy (KMS) Project ID:

DAN22

Host Organisation:

Department of Primary Industries and Resources New South Wales

Researchers:

Steven Falivene

Subjects

Subjects:

Monitoring and Assessment

Salinity

Soils

Irrigation

Keywords:

Productivity

Environmental risk

water supply

Project Information

Outcomes:

Stage 1:

An understanding of OHS principles and practices and the availability of relevant information for irrigators, policy makers and industry. This opportunity for understanding will lead to better defined OHS design techniques.

An understanding of the feasibility of the system for various locations in Australia and this will build upon other existing tools for crop/climate/soils selection.

An initial assessment of the barriers, environment, social (skills) and economic (capital costs) that will be required to be overcome for successful adoption.

Better understanding of the impacts of adoption on water service providers and environmental agencies that may change the design parameters for infrastructure refurbishment and environmental monitoring.

Stage 2:

An improvement in the sustainability of irrigation by:

better informed investment decisions by industries, producers and lending providers, and
improved understanding of the risks and benefits of broadscale adoption of the technology.

Facilitation of the adoption of more efficient and effective water use and nutrition practices if the technology is proved to be sustainable. Specific improvements will occur through:

the adoption of wide-spread objective management systems for drip irrigation (that includes fertigation),
matching irrigation to crop water use (quantity applied),
understanding the varying nutrient requirements of the plant,

Potential for increased economic viability through improved production (quality and quantity).

Understanding of the social implications that may result from wide-spread adoption of this technology. Also an understanding of the likely rate of adoption of the technology will be an outcome.

Potential for gains for the supply and support industries (eg. manufacturers, designers and consultants)

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

This system is relatively new to Australia and there are a number of commercial citrus operations currently in place using the principles of OHS. Yandilla Park in South Australia is a large commercial operation currently using and marketing a technology imported from Spain(Martínez Open Hydroponics Technology). Other commercial orchards are using their own interpretations and variations of OHS. There is potential that OHS is suitable for a range of other crops (peaches, almonds, grapes, citrus, avocados and several vegetables) with suitable irrigation systems.

Aims:

Stage one of the project is a desktop study to:

Review the current knowledge and status of OHS including grey and published literature
Evaluate the impact of OHS on water supply infrastructure
Examine the potential impact of OHS on the environment

Stage two of the project will work with industry to:

Validate water use, nutrient leakage and salt accumulation of OHS
Determine the potential return on investment from OHS through examination of yield and quality dividends
Develop Best Management Practice guidelines for industry to optimise productivity and minimise environmental impact

Optimising wool production and profitability in the Mid-North riparian areas

superuser — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:23:50 +0000

This project measured the effectiveness of alternative stock management and other rehabilitation methods that aim to improve pasture and wool quality from riparian areas. It quantified as far as possible the costs and benefits of these methods, and provided practical guidance to woolgrowers on how to implement them to improve both production and environmental management.

IDs and People

Program:

Land, Water and Wool

Program Theme:

Rivers and Water Quality

Research Type:

Research Project

Research Scale:

Region

Subjects

Subjects:

Conservation

Landscape Management

Salinity

Livestock (Sheep)

Rivers and Wetlands

Keywords:

Woolgrowers

Land Management

Riparian

Environmental Management

Native Vegetation

Sustainable Grazing

Pastures

Increase production

Project Information

Summary:

Current Activities

Status:

Complete

Background

Project Background:

Rivers and their adjacent riparian areas in much of the Mid-North of South Australia were once prime grazing country, typified by native grasslands and fresh water. These areas are now showing increasing signs of stress and degradation, including rising river salinity and reduced pasture productivity.

Aims:

The aim of this project was to assist wool producers in the Mid-North region of SA to determine the most cost-effective way to manage riparian frontages, optimising profit and production, while also improving the condition of pastures and native vegetation, channel banks and the creek environment.

Location

State & NRM Region:

South Australia

Geographic Zone:

Broadacre: Wheat-Sheep