Dr Malcolm Gillies and Professor Joseph Foley from the University of Southern Qld talk about irrigation performance and how SISCOweb can be used to optimised surface irrigation.

Optimised surface irrigation can occur where-ever an understanding of irrigation inflow rates into furrows or bays can be measured, and the corresponding irrigation water advance times down the field can be captured during the irrigation event.

The SISCOweb processes available today determine the infiltration curve for the field during the irrigation event, and then optimise for the best time to cut-off the irrigation water supply into the field. This can be delivered as a scheduled closure time on an automation gate, or via an SMS to growers managing the irrigation.

Optimising individual irrigation events will help growers apply the right amount of water and help improve irrigation water use efficiency.

Dr Alison McCarthy from University Southern Qld talks about her projects in Dairy and Cotton where she has developed the VARIwise software which is able link field sensor information from multiple sources to generate an irrigation prescription. The software enables communication with commercially available variable rate irrigation systems. Irrigation can then be applied to the field so that there are no areas of either over or under irrigation. This system enables optimised irrigation resulting in 5-10 % improvement in yield, with additional water and labour savings.

Gravity fed flood irrigation systems are an important part of the dairy industry in Victoria. The SIP2 researchers from Agriculture Victoria; Andy McAllister, Amjed Hussain and Des Whitfield talk about their work with producers to develop a more efficient whole farm gravity fed irrigation system. They are using satellite-based irrigation scheduling and new irrigation bay designs. This approach relies on minimal use of in-field sensors and will integrate farm irrigation scheduling with automated management of irrigation re-use systems. This will enable producers to make better irrigation and grazing management decisions.

Using plant bases sensing to monitor plant stress have been researched for many years, the challenge was determining how to apply the information so it could be of practical benefit to irrigators. Investment by the CRDC and CSIRO into the use of Canopy Temperature Sensors in cotton have enable the technology to be commercialised with agtech company GoannaAg. The technology can improve irrigation scheduling in both a fully irrigated and a partially irrigated cotton crop

GUESTS

Dr Hiz Jamali - Research Scientist with CSIRO Agriculture and Food

Peter Lennox - Cotton Grower - Gunnedah

For more information visit the Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2 website

Minimising evaporation will reduce losses and mean more water is available for production.

GUESTS

Dr. Will Lee - Researcher - Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Melbourne

Dr. Joel Scofield - - Researcher - Department of Chemical Engineering - University of Melbourne

For more information visit the Smarter Irrigation for Profit 2 website