This case study looks at maximising water and nutrient penetration into root zones using improved irrigation scheduling.

Australian irrigators are under increasing pressure to maintain the viability of their farm businesses in the face of reduced surface and ground-water allocations; increasing competition from alternative users (such as urban, industry and the environment); the cost-price squeeze; and the uncertainties in climate change. The key challenge to irrigation growers is then how to identify practical and actionable strategies that increase returns per ML of water available at the whole farm level while at the same time reducing or minimizing risks.

This project provided for the extension of the Vegetable Irrigation Scheduling System (VISS). The VISS increases irrigation water use efficiency by advising irrigation managers of the specific irrigation needs of crops by accounting for plant growth factor, soil type and local evaporation rates. As a result of the project, VISS has been adopted by managers responsible for an estimated 20% of the water used by the vegetable industry on the Swan Coastal Plain. The knowledge about irrigation management of a much broader range of growers has also improved through the project. Increased water use efficiency is important to securing the ongoing viability of the vegetable industry as it is considered a key limiting resource. The project has also contributed to the more sustainable management of the ground water resource because it has the potential to reduce the incidence of over-watering. Decreased over-watering is associated with reduced leaching of water and nutrients back to the aquifer.

This report captures the key principles of sustainable irrigation at the farm scale. And is an update including recent research. The NPSI Knowledge Harvest brings together information from across the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation (NPSI) projects, highlighting key findings and promoting wider understanding. Key Harvest themes: Irrigation Overview - facts, figures and key concepts about irrigation. Water Delivery Systems - the efficient storage and distribution of water for irrigation. On-farm Irrigation Essentials - principles for efficient irrigation. Recycled Water - recycling treated effluent and stormwater for irrigation

This case study looks at trialling retention of corn stubble as an inexpensive way to reduce soil water evaporation.

Standards and codes are recognised by governments as an essential part of a nations trade infrastructure as important as physical assets like roads and airports. This paper summarises the current position in the Australian irrigation industry with regard to the adoption, use, development and monitoring of codes.

The delivery of dissolved mineral fertilisers to the roots of crops in the field using irrigation water is known as 'fertigation'. The use of fertigation is gaining popularity because of it's efficiencies in nutrient management, time and labour and potentially a greater control over crop performance.

This case study looks at the project: Soil Management for Australian Irrigated Agriculture. The project addressed what was seen as the main cause for low productivity: "Australian soils rapidly deteriorate when put under crops - they go hard, then restrict crop roots, yield falls off disastrously and the crops become uneconomic after two years. Soil improvement trials were undertaken on-farm as part of the project.

Irrigated farm businesses currently face a number of problems--reduced water allocations and river flows, increased climate variability, and economic pressures. In order to remain profitable and increase the productivity of water supplies, urgent action is required.

The results of this project show that there is considerable scope for improving the water use efficiency of fruit production in Australia. The two year project has sought to test the partial rootzone drying (PRD) irrigation method, originally developed for grapevines, in a range of woody perennial horticultural crops. The technique requires that both wet and dry rootzones are simultaneously created. Results with grapes, citrus and pears have given