The economics of subsurface drip irrigation on perennial pastures and fodder production in Australia

Heard, J. W.; Porker, M.J.; Armstrong, Dan P.; Finger, Lucy; Ho, C. K. M.; Wales, W. J.; Malcolm, Bill

doi:10.1016/j.agwat.2012.05.005

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 12 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Grassland irrigation based on the sustainable exploitation of the water resource can curb desertification, restore the pastures and enhance the local economies in rural areas [4,5]. Nevertheless, the major technical obstacle for irrigating is the lack of access to electricity in the remote pasture land areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-economic feasibility of the irrigation system for the grassland and farmland conservation in China: Photovoltaic vs. wind power water pumping

Campana

Yan

2015

Energy Conversion and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-economic feasibility of the irrigation system for the grassland and farmland conservation in China: Photovoltaic vs. wind power water pumping

Campana

Yan

2015

Energy Conversion and Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The SDI benefit to hay production economics has been analysed by Heard et al () for hay production in Australia. They found that the installation of SDI for grazed perennial pastures in a grazing dairy system of Australia would not be a wise investment based on the current capital cost of installation, but SDI for alfalfa production could be profitable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Model to Assess the Economic Viability of Alfalfa Production Under Subsurface Drip Irrigation in California

Montazar

Zaccaria

Bali³

et al. 2016

Irrig. and Drain.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study was carried out to develop a model to explore the economic viability of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for alfalfa production in the major alfalfa production regions of California. Data from previously published studies on alfalfa under drip irrigation were applied to establish the relationship between hay yield and seasonal water use. A correction factor was defined to adjust the potential impacts of SDI due to regional differences in yield potential. A partial economic analysis was developed to assess economic benefits of SDI in alfalfa. The model predicted an additional 7.9 Mg ha−1 yield as a result of switching from surface flood irrigation to SDI, averaged across the principal alfalfa‐growing counties and regions in California. The hay yield improvements predicted by the model are in good agreement with the preliminary reports of improved hay yields from the 12 commercial farmers who have implemented SDI in Sacramento Valley, Low Desert, and Southern San Joaquin Valley regions. While the proposed model illustrated the potential profitability of SDI in alfalfa in several regions, further on‐farm experience and analysis would be required to confirm these results in practice. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

show abstract

“…However, the area sown to lucerne in the southern Murray Darling Basin is expanding due to a reduced risk of stand damage from waterlogging because of a combination of improvements in irrigation management, weather forecasting, disease resistance and an increase in the depth of regional water tables because of a series of dry winters. There have also been improved perceptions of lucerne's value relating to its productivity, nutritive characteristics and its ability to fill summer feed gaps, as well as an appreciation of its ability to survive dry conditions and then respond to rainfall and irrigation [52][53][54].…”

Section: Perennial Foragesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forage Options for Dairy Farms with Reduced Water Availability in the Southern Murray Darling Basin of Australia

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:The dairy industry in the southern Murray Darling Basin region of Australia is a major consumer of irrigation water because rainfall is low relative to evapotranspiration and the industrys relies heavily on irrigated temperate pastures and fodder crops. Water reforms, and potential climate change scenarios for this region suggest that there will be an overall decline in rainfall and water available for irrigation in the future. For the irrigated dairy industry to remain economically viable, there is a need for dairy farmers to improve the water productivity (WP) of their forage systems and to be able to respond to year-to-year, and within year, variation in water availability. Researchers and dairy farmers are evaluating strategies to increase WP. These include: (i) selecting better-adapted species for current and predicted climatic conditions; (ii) using species that can survive and still be productive under reduced irrigation and then recover when full irrigation is restored; (iii) modifying irrigation strategies to reduce water use whilst maintaining WP; and (iv) grazing management strategies that facilitate the survival during, and recovery after, periods of moisture stress. This review will examine these strategies and discusses their potential to optimise forage production from irrigation water inputs so that the dairy industry in the southern Murray Darling Basin remains viable in the future.

show abstract

The economics of subsurface drip irrigation on perennial pastures and fodder production in Australia

Cited by 17 publications

References 12 publications

Techno-economic feasibility of the irrigation system for the grassland and farmland conservation in China: Photovoltaic vs. wind power water pumping

Techno-economic feasibility of the irrigation system for the grassland and farmland conservation in China: Photovoltaic vs. wind power water pumping

A Model to Assess the Economic Viability of Alfalfa Production Under Subsurface Drip Irrigation in California

Forage Options for Dairy Farms with Reduced Water Availability in the Southern Murray Darling Basin of Australia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About