Centre Pivot Irrigation report, executive summary

2009
CC BY 4.0

Research organisaton

Trial details

Researcher(s) James De Barro (Alpha Group Consulting)
Year(s) 2009
Contributor MacKillop Farm Management Group
Trial location(s) Bool Lagoon, SA
Centre Pivot Irrigation report, executive summary locations
Aims

An objective of this research was to create a water balance model for white clover seed production. In conjunction with the water balance investigation, determination of $return/ML applied to assess water use efficiency would be studied. Overlaying this research was the aim of assessing current, as well as historical, impacts of irrigation management on soil chemistry and structure. The objective
was to gain more understanding of how irrigation practices affect the soil and how this in turn impacts on white clover production both presently and into the future

Key messages

Irrigators should be advised by policy makers in the strongest possible terms to utilise continual logging soil moisture monitoring in their irrigation management plans. Soil moisture monitoring should not be viewed as an optional extra in an irrigation system but rather as the control centre that determines when to irrigate and how much to apply. The role of irrigation for crop production and salinity management requires soil moisture monitoring to determine the optimal time and volumes to achieve measurable objectives. Further research is needed to qualify and quantify the use of salt leaching irrigations as well as the use of gypsum applications to manage surface compaction created by stock and irrigation impact. White clover seed producers need to improve their attention to irrigation efficiency and focus on the net $ return/ML of irrigation applied. They are also advised to review their agronomic practices including paddock selection and rotations to aid in mitigating their current high end herbicide use on the white clover seed crops.

Lead research organisation N/A
Host research organisation N/A
Related program N/A
Acknowledgments N/A
Other trial partners Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional trial information

Method

Crop type Pasture: Clover
Treatment type(s)
  • Irrigation: Type
Trial type
Trial design

Bool Lagoon 2009

Sow date Not specified
Harvest date Not specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified

Bool Lagoon 2009

Sow date none specified
Harvest date none specified
Plot size Not specified
Plot replication Not specified
Download the trial report to view additional method/treatment information
Trial source data and summary not available
Check the trial report PDF for trial results.
Observed trial site soil information
Trial site soil testing
Not specified
Soil conditions
Trial site Soil texture
Bool Lagoon, SA Not specified
Derived trial site soil information
Australian Soil Classification Source: ASRIS
Trial site Soil order
Bool Lagoon, SA Vertosol
Soil Moisture Source: BOM/ANU
Average amount of water stored in the soil profile during the year, estimated by the OzWALD model-data fusion system.
Year Bool Lagoon SA
2009 458.5mm
2008 417.8mm
2007 449.8mm
2006 428.6mm
2005 451.4mm
2004 471.2mm
2003 475.4mm
2002 427.6mm
2001 553.8mm
2000 579.8mm
National soil grid Source: CSIRO/TERN
NOTE: National Soil Grid data is aggregated information for background information on the wider area
Actual soil values can vary significantly in a small area and the trial soil tests are the most relevant data where available

Soil properties

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Climate

Derived climate information

No observed climate data available for this trial.
Derived climate data is determined from trial site location and national weather sources.

Bool Lagoon SA

NOTE: Exact trial site locality unknown - Climate data may not be accurate
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Some data on this site is sourced from the Bureau of Meteorology

SILO weather estimates sourced from https://www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au/silo/
Jeffrey, S.J., Carter, J.O., Moodie, K.B. and Beswick, A.R. (2001). Using spatial interpolation to construct a comprehensive archive of Australian climate data , Environmental Modelling and Software, Vol 16/4, pp 309-330. DOI: 10.1016/S1364-8152(01)00008-1.

Trial report and links

2009 trial report



Trial last modified: 23-11-2021 13:09pm AEST