This position paper summarises research and investigations to develop a strategy for the effective use of the internet in the Australian irrigation industry.

Key issues which the NPSI Board requested should be addressed in the document were: Comment on the place that oxygenation may have in reducing the effects of water logging on production for various irrigation systems and secondary issues such as disease and pathogens at higher water temperatures. How much is understood on the impacts of soil structure on water use efficiency, and in particular, managing the leaching fraction requirements of various soilsΓ Comment on the proposed work by Schrale to investigate issues associated with soil structure decline Other than leaching efficiency and leaching fraction, are there other issues we do not understand that limit plants' water use efficiency and salt disposal within the root zoneΓ

Knowledge is one of our most valuable and intangible assets. A research project in the cotton and grains industries has been asking the question: how is irrigation information accessed and knowledge managed to make better decisionsΓ

A national workshop was convened by National Program for Irrigation Research and Development (NPIRD) to establish the need for national standards for rrigated crop water balance and crop evapotranspiration (ETc1) field ethodologies. The workshop was attended by representatives of relevant state agencies and federal organisations. Participants all had a sound understanding of the use of ET in their organization at a technical level and were also able to represent the organization at a policy level. The findings of the workshop showed that there are sufficient reasons and levels of agreement to pursue national standards

The National Program for Sustainable Irrigation was a unique collaboration as it involved governments, irrigators, water providers and researchers from across Australia. It covered every aspect of irrigation from dam management and water delivery, through on-farm management, to sustainable landscape environmental measures

The Board of the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation commissioned this scoping document to assist in its research investment deliberations. The key question addressed by this scoping study is: What has to be developed or modified to understand and monitor the three dimensional flow of water and salt movement in: (a) the root zone when precision irrigation systems are used, and (b) the soil profile, assuming that we are able to manage the preferred salt storage zonesΓ

* Ecological Risk Assessment * Partner Profile: Land & Water Australia * Broadacre Hydroponics * Water Use Efficiency Information * New Water Property Titles Report

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 themes within the Harvest are: 1. Irrigation Overview - facts, figures and key concepts about irrigation. 2. Water Delivery Systems - the efficient storage and distribution of water for irrigation. 3. On-farm Irrigation Essentials - principles for efficient irrigation.4. Recycled Water - recycling treated effluent and stormwater for irrigation.

The National Program for Sustainable Irrigation was a unique collaboration as it involved governments, irrigators, water providers and researchers from across Australia. It covered every aspect of irrigation from dam management and water delivery, through on-farm management, to sustainable landscape environmental measures

Extensive work on soil structure by researcher Dr Bruce Cockroft from Northern Victoria has brought the maintenance of soil structure into the spotlight as a promising area for irrigators to work on to improve their yields. An overview of Cockroft's research has been prepared by Dr Rob Murray at the University of Adelaide for the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation.un-off.