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Science and the irrigator a learning manifesto

Research Bulletin

This bulletin explores the relationship between local irrigation practice and adaptive learning. When combined the shared conceptualisation of real world problems leads to better industry outcomes. The research bulletin uses a case study of irrigating a sweet corn crop with waste water to demonstrate this process in action.

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Sustaining perennial horticultural production

under supplementary irrigation drawn from saline groundwater

This publication explores ongoing perennial horticultural production using supplementary irrigation with saline groundwater. The role of rainfall, spatial distribution of salinity and salt-exclusion characteristics of rootstocks are among the considerations.

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Informing Ord River water management

Research Bulletin

In many regions of Australia there can be gaps between scientific community and general public understanding of water management issues. This bulletin outlines a framework for working together in the Ord River region using an initiative from the UNESCO International Hydrological Program called Health Environment Life Policy (HELP).

Managing fertigation technologies in citrus orchards

With recent advances in technology irrigators can now more precisely control delivery of mineral nutrients and water to the roots of perennial tree crops. These technologies, collectively referred to as fertigation, provide the opportunity to adopt and implement highly technical management programs, such as open hydroponics, that use drip irrigation to deliver a balanced mixture of nutrients and water. This research bulletin provides an overview of a project, funded by the National (more)...

Separating almond evapotranspiration into soil water evaporation and crop transpiration

Separating Almond Evapotranspiration

The estimation of crop water use is a key input into much of the software which supports irrigation management. The most common method used to derive this estimate is to calculate it from weather data and coefficients specific to crop type and growing…

Defining precision irrigation: a new approach to irrigation management

Despite the widespread promotion and adoption of precision agriculture in dry-land cropping systems, the concept of irrigation being part of precision agricultural systems is still getting off the ground, both in Australia and internationally. There is currently no cohesive framework available to guide research, development or adoption of precision irrigation and its associated support technologies. This project is reviewing irrigation research, existing technologies and the use of precision (more)...

Investigating lake/groundwater interactions at Lake Tutchewop

Salinity is an on-going environmental concern that causes damage to agricultural land, downstream water users, aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as to regional and urban infrastructure. One strategy to manage increasing salinity in the Murray Darling Basin is the construction of 13 major salt interception schemes that divert 550,000 tonnes of salt away from the Murray River each year (Figure 1). The Barr Creek Drainage Disposal Scheme is one of these schemes diverting saline water into (more)...

Northern Australia Irrigation Futures - Overview

The Northern Australian Irrigation Futures (NAIF) project has worked closely with the WA, NT, QLD and Australian governments, researchers and stakeholders, to deliver new knowledge, tools and processes to support debate and decision making regarding irrigation in northern Australia.

Irrigation Mosaics in Northern Australia

The Northern Australia Irrigation Futures (NAIF) project has undertaken a review of research into irrigation mosaics as an approach to irrigation in northern Australia. Irrigation mosaics involve smaller patches of irrigation distributed across the landscape as an alternative to large contiguous areas of irrigation (see Figure 1). This research has examined the current understanding of irrigation mosaics drawing lessons from ecology, forestry, meteorology and saline (more)...

Understanding water systems of Northern Australia

There is growing interest in developing some of the water resources of northern Australia. This trend is partly fueled by widespread perceptions of abundant water resources in northern Australia, declining rainfall in southern Australia and recognition that some water resources in the south are over-allocated and over-used. This study presents an overview of the landscape of northern Australia with respect to its soil and water resources, climate and hydrology and with special emphasis on attributes (more)...