|
Future Visions
 |
Coordinated irrigation research investment in Australia started with formation of the National Program for Irrigation Research and Development in 1993. It led to the creation of the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation (NPSI) in 2002. NPSI established a broad funding base including contributions from government, various agricultural and horticultural industries, and water authorities, to address both environmental and production challenges.
Water scarcity, a changing environment, and the critical role of irrigation in achieving productivity growth for our food and fibre, has required a review of how we address the challenges our nation faces. NPSI, Irrigation Australia and Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures (CRC IF) are leading the development of a future vision for irrigation research and its adoption. The reveiw has recently been completed and the vision document will be launched at the Irrigation Australia Conference to be held in Sydney from June 8-10. The National Program for Sustainable Irrigation is a major sponsor of the conference and many of its projects will be presented.
In this edition of Irrigation Essentials, Peter Toome, Chairman of Irrigation Australia (a key contributor to the vision document) presents his views about what needs to be done to make the next significant gains in irrigation performance. New research bulletins and news items which show how the current range of NPSI investments addresses not only the continuing need to generate knowledge but also the importance of adoption of this knowledge.
|
Big irrigation advances depend on local action
|
According to Peter Toome, Chairman of Irrigation Australia, making sense of things at a local level is necessary to make a difference to the bigger picture for irrigation. He also sees a need for peak industry and research bodies to consider funding mechanisms most likely to achieve projected outcomes. |
Sustaining production under supplementary irrigation
Tim Pitt and Rob Stevens from the SA Research and Development Institute / CRC IF report on progress of studies of vine performance under conditions of rising groundwater salinity. The role of rainfall, spatial distribution of salinity and salt-exclusion characteristics of rootstocks are among considerations.
Download the research bulletin from the NPSI website.
MORE>>
Irrigation efficiency benchmarks develop
 |
The Water Smart Cotton and Grains project has involved data collection and training in the cotton and grain industries. This project will lead to refinement of benchmarking as a means for irrigators to rate their performance and identify ways of making further improvements. |
Sustainable use of recycled water
In September 2008 Matt Shanahan was awarded the Irrigation Australia Limited/National Program for Sustainable Irrigation (IAL/NPSI) Travel Youth Fellowship. The focus of Matt’s fellowship was the sustainable use of recycled water for irrigated agriculture.
Download the full article where Matt describes what he saw and discusses what this might mean for use of recycled water in Australia.
MORE>>
Flow-on effects of collaborative research
Irrigators continue to improve their water use efficiency and productivity.
Through collaborative investments in irrigation research, the National Program for Sustainable Irrigation (NPSI) is helping Australia find ways of saving water and using this limited resource in a sustainable and productive manner.
Read the full Ground Cover article about benefits of collaborative research involving the Cotton and Grains Rural Reserach & Development Corporations.
MORE>>
|
