Background

Issues affecting horticulture sustainability in the region include elevated soil and water salinity levels, limited available groundwater supplies, and perched saline water tables and poorly drained sub-soils in some areas, which can cause production losses if over-irrigated.  Concerns have been raised about how irrigators are using available water supplies, including from the Class A reclaimed water scheme at Bolivar.  In this project growers are being supported in monitoring their water use efficiency and building sustainable practices.

Objectives

• Identify issues and knowledge gaps in irrigation and soil management using case study sites in collaboration with industry. 
• Demonstrate practical management practices and modern technologies on grower case study sites.
• Develop information packages and strategies to improve water use efficiency and optimise productivity.
•  Minimise impacts of irrigation and deep drainage on natural resources of the Northern Adelaide Plains.

Key Achievements

• Partnership formed between Virginia Horticulture Centre, Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA), Department of Land, Water and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC), Northern Adelaide and Barossa Catchment Water Management Board and Virginia Irrigators Association.
• Project Advisory Group formed with members from industry and project partners, to guide activities and provide linkages with the irrigator community.
• Twelve case study sites have been established initially across the area representing the key different soil types, and water supplies used. Sites include greenhouse tomato and cucumber crops, broadacre vegetables such as cabbage and carrot, and perennial almond and winegrape sites.
• Data collection undertaken at case study sites, covering: soil moisture monitoring (gypsum blocks, tensiometers), FullStop™ wetting front detectors, irrigation records, weather records, irrigation system performance, root and canopy development, and soil salinity monitoring.
• Installation of testwells at all sites and monitoring of shallow water table depths.
• Feedback of information collected to case study growers for their use in irrigation management.
• Article about the project published in Stock Journal.
• Working together with a Flinders University research project studying regional irrigation practices and developing a model of deep drainage under different soil types.

The sites will be used to demonstrate management techniques, which have potential to assist irrigators’ management.

Growers will be involved in data collection that will enable them to assess their irrigation efficiency, identify any problems and develop ways to fix them.

Findings from case study sites will be subsequently extended to the broader irrigator community through field days and training activities – to assist in promoting adoption of improved irrigation practices.

Project Delivery

The project is being conducted by the Irrigated Crop Management Service (ICMS) unit of Rural Solutions SA, jointly funded by PIRSA and DWLBC.