Evaluation of the performance of automated bay irrigation of pasture and fodder
Paper
Paper/Presentation Title | Evaluation of the performance of automated bay irrigation of pasture and fodder |
---|---|
Presentation Type | Paper |
Authors | Smith, Rod (Author), Uddin, Jasim (Author) and Gillies, Malcolm (Author) |
Journal or Proceedings Title | Proceedings of the Irrigation Australia Regional Conference 2015 |
Number of Pages | 2 |
Year | 2015 |
Place of Publication | Sydney, Australia |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | http://irrigation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IAL-2015_Conference-Program1.pdf |
Conference/Event | Irrigation Australia Regional Conference 2015 |
Event Details | Irrigation Australia Regional Conference 2015 Event Date 26 to end of 28 May 2015 Event Location Sydney, Australia |
Abstract | Automation of surface (bay) irrigation is a commercial reality with a number of farms in northern Victoria adopting it for whole or part of their irrigated area. Automation provides increased certainty in irrigation management. However in the absence of appropriate decision support, most of the key decisions, such as the scheduling of irrigations, flow rate and irrigation duration, still rely on the skill of the irrigator. Over the 2013/14 irrigation season the authors were engaged to evaluate the application efficiency of automated bay irrigation. The trial involved 9 farms x 1 bay x multiple irrigations. Flow rate into the bay was inferred from measurements at the supply point to the farm. Irrigation advance down the bay and flow depth were measured at three points down each bay. Soil moisture was monitored continuously at a central point in each trial bay. Data were collected automatically and stored on-line. The results demonstrated that application efficiencies in excess of 90% are achievable and are being achieved through correct and precise management of the automated irrigation. Four of the farms evaluated in this study are already operating at that level. For another four of the farms strategies have been identified that will raise their efficiency close to or above 90%. On the remaining farm soil limitations preclude improvements in efficiency on the trial bay. As well a number of not unexpected lessons were learnt from the trial: |
Keywords | application efficiency, irrigation duration, soil moisture, waterlogging |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 300202. Agricultural land management |
Public Notes | Abstract only, as supplied here, published in the Conference Proceedings. No evidence of copyright restrictions preventing deposit. |
Byline Affiliations | National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q300w/evaluation-of-the-performance-of-automated-bay-irrigation-of-pasture-and-fodder
Download files
1742
total views73
total downloads1
views this month0
downloads this month