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Irrigation Insights 7 - Geophysics for the irrigation industry

Geophysical techniques involve the use of ground-based and airborne geophysical devices to measure physical properties of the earth. They can assist in the planning and management of irrigation developments by identifying the size and depth of aquifers, the connectivity between surface and ground water, the salinity of aquifers, the mineral composition and depth of the soil and the chances of successful water boring. Most geophysics applied to irrigation is in the form of imaging conducted (more)...

Irrigation Insights 2 - Subsurface Drainage Design and Management Practices in Irrigated Areas of Australia

It is widely understood that irrigation development results in deep percolation past the rootzone, which recharges the groundwater. With flood irrigation, watertables often rise at around 0.5 m a year until a new equilibrium is established where the watertable fluctuates from the soil surface to around 3 m deep. A significant part of all irrigation areas in Australia are currently in this condition or approaching such equilibrium. Irrigation areas in southeastern Australia, particularly in the Murray (more)...

Controlling evaporation losses from farm dams

National Program for Sustainable Irrigation Fact sheet 2005/4

As much as 40% of water stored in a farm dam can be lost through evaporation, depending on the depth of the dam and its surface area. Dam design can significantly decrease evaporation by reducing the surface area to volume ratio (deeper, narrower dams) and planting windbreaks to provide shade and reduce wind turbulence. Over the years, a number of commercial products have also been developed to minimise water losses, including floating plastic covers and chemical products that change the (more)...