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Irrigation efficiency highlighted

Posted on November 16, 2009, 11:11am

A group of flood irrigators from Argentina will visit Padthaway on Tuesday to learn about the successful irrigation efficiency initiatives undertaken on the properties of the McElroy and Edwards families.

Following the recent adoption of the 2009 Padthaway Water Allocation Plan, which saw the introduction of volumetric conversion and associated reductions to allocations, sustainable limits were implemented throughout the Padthaway Prescribed Wells Area.

SE NRM Board general manager Hugo Hopton said the board was keen to highlight the excellent work of landholders in implementing irrigation efficiency projects.

“The visitors will be given a tour of two properties which implemented surface irrigation improvements through the use of surge irrigation and a pipes and riser delivery system,” he said.

“Both families have implemented portable bay monitor and radio-controlled automation, which assists with removing the guesswork and wastage due to over watering.”

Krysteen McElroy said: “It also allows for more bike riding and no more getting up through the night!”

After participating in a board program which investigated alternative delivery options, including installation of pivots, reduction in bay lengths, increased flow rates and enhanced bay slopes, the McElroy family decided to upgrade their current surface irrigation system.

Reduced flow rates was the catalyst for researching options for continuing to surface irrigate, hence the implementation of the surge system.

This required the improvement of channels to increase storage capacity, reduce seepage through the channel floor and around irrigation gates.

The initial irrigations this season have seen the megalitres applied per hectare at least halved and the irrigation time almost quartered.

On another Padthaway property, Stephen and Heather Edwards have undertaken significant groundworks to increase bay slope over and above the natural gradient, to speed up water flow and use less water per irrigation, and also implemented a pipes and riser system.

They have increased the gradient from 1/5000 to 1/2000.

In the first year the initial paddock developed under this method saw a reduction in megalitres applied by almost a third.

The water is delivered to the bays through “risers”, which seal perfectly watertight.

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