Change and continuity in peri-urban Australia: scenarios and strategies for sustainability

superuser — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:43:51 +0000

IDs and People

Program:

Social and Institutional Research Program

Program Theme:

Regional Natural Resources Management

Research Type:

Research Project

LWA Project Code:

RMI13

Host Organisation:

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Researchers:

Michael Buxton

Subjects

Subjects:

NRM Processes

Keywords:

Sustainability

Project Information

Summary:

Change and continuity in peri-urban Australia: scenarios and strategies for sustainability

Current Activities

Status:

Pending

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

All in Sustainability

Change and continuity in peri-urban Australia: scenarios and strategies for sustainability

Changing Irrigation Systems and Management in the Harvey Irrigation Area