The Knowledge Harvest project aimed to raise awareness and adoption of NPSI research. The harvest consolidated knowledge from the last 10 years of investment including the recently completed Phase I of the Program, knowledge from NPSI’s predecessor National Program for Irrigation Research and Development (NPIRD) and knowledge from Phase II.
Ross Stottelaar investigated if water from Lake Tutchewop was leaking into groundwater. This project formed part of his final year honours project for his undergraduate degree from RMIT University. Ross worked with Goulburn-Murray Water, complementing current work in the area.
There is now strong evidence of serious soil structural decline under precision irrigation, but practical tools to identify the conditions for this degradation are not yet available. We will identify a range of paired (precision-irrigated / non-irrigated) texture-contrast soils in vineyards across the Barossa Valley and assess the impact of this irrigation on soil properties important for root growth and water uptake.
This pilot study evaluates the performance of the LongStop under a furrow irrigated cotton crop on a cracking grey clay soil.
The research will investigate two decentralised approaches to storage management - carryover rights and capacity sharing.
This project examined and compared carry over and capacity sharing rights to consider outcomes to central control of storages (dams). This will include the development of a model to quantify the potential benefits from adopting decentralised storage management policies. The project will also involve a detailed examination of existing capacity sharing schemes (more)…
This project, using the Padthaway district as a case study will produce strategies to adapt (with time) the crop production system to the prevailing soil & climatic conditions, groundwater flow & quality regime and irrigation technology to achieve premium wines that continue to meet world food health standards and hence ensure export growth.
Felicity Roos, at the University of Sydney, will be doing a short trial of the ‘SoluSampler’. The SoluSampler is a water sampler that collects samples at various root depths in order to monitor rootzone salinity. This tool has been used in citrus and grape crops and Felicity will be testing it for suitability for monitoring nutrient leaching and salinity levels under irrigated cotton and grains.
This project will deliver a framework for use by policy makers, regulators, managers, and investors to ensure irrigation is developed in a sustainable manner across northern Australia. Stage I of the project will involve development of the full project team, key client/stakeholder/collaborative network, and detailed work plan and budget. Stage II will involve carrying out the work plan agreed to in Stage I.
The NPSI/IAL Travel Fellowship Award enables young professionals within the irrigation industry the opportunity to travel overseas to undertake research and gain experience and knowledge. The Travel Fellowship is awarded yearly and is jointly funded by the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation and Irrigation Australia Limited.
An open hydroponic system (OHS) is a continuous method of supplying a crop’s water and nutrient needs in a very precise way. Unlike traditional soiless media hydroponic systems, in the open field hydroponic system the soil is used as the medium in which the plant grows and its primary function is to provide the support structure to anchor the plant and accommodate its root system.
