Improving Water Efficiency in Dairy Grazing Pastures
“Improving Water Efficiency in Dairy Grazing Pastures – Production system and environmental benefits of best practices irrigation utilising subsurface tape technology.”
Dookie Campus Dairy will be the focus site for this project funded by the Gardiner Foundation. A multi-disciplinary team including Roger Wrigley will attempt to increase water use efficiency through the application of subsurface tape technology. Tape irrigation is a relatively new form of drip irrigation. Irrigating tape is buried underground delivering water and liquid fertiliser precisely to the root zone area where it is needed most.
The project will result in the comparative analysis of two forms of irrigation – conventional flood irrigation and sub-surface tape irrigation. Potential production, environmental, economic and lifestyle benefits of adopting and incorporating new irrigation technology into dairy farm production systems will also be explored.
Utilising an iterative approach, various assessments, workshops and discussions with experts and end users (dairy farmers) will be facilitated to ensure best practice for subsurface irrigation is developed and areas of concern are investigated.
Project Leader is Professor John Langford, Melbourne Water Research Centre. Partner organisations are:
- Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development
- Goulburn Murray Water
- National ICT Australia Ltd
- The University of Melbourne , School of Agriculture and Food Systems
- The University of Melbourne , Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- The University of Melbourne , Department of Veterinary Science
- The University of Melbourne , International Development Technology Centre
- IMU Consultants Pty Ltd
- Netafim Australia
- Toro Australia Pty Ltd
- Plastro Asia Pacific