Bulletin

Frameworks to support irrigation decision making in Northern Australia

The Northern Australia Irrigation Futures (NAIF) research program has provided new knowledge, tools and processes to support decision making regarding irrigation in northern Australia.

New Tools for Measuring Evaporation from Farm Dams

This bulletin describes the results of a modelling study of evaporation from farm dams and a ‘ready reckoner’ in the form of a spreadsheet that:

• Calculates the cost of installing an evaporation reduction system
• Calculates how much water is saved from evaporating.

Estimating water use efficiency for a whole catchment

Catchment managers have a responsibility to ensure equitable use of water, balancing water requirements from the upper catchment all the way downstream to the end of the valley. On farms, effi cient use of water is a goal which everybody shares to avoid plant stress from drought or waterlogging and to avoid paying for too much water.

Measuring the effects of improving water use efficiency on root zone salinity

Since the end of 2003 a tri-state syndicate of government agencies from western NSW, Victoria and South Australia has been working on a strategy to manage this salinity hazard. This Research Bulletin draws on some of the findings to date, focusing on results of monitoring root zone salinity and deep drainage in sprinkler and drip-irrigated citrus orchards and vineyards.