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The furrow irrigation of citrus trees growing on a River Murray irrigation area

Furrow irrigation was the forerunner of the methods used to irrigate citrus in South Australia. Later attempts to replace furrow systems with overhead sprinklers aimed at reducing labour costs, improving irrigation efficiency and reducing seepage problems were superseded when rising river salinity and water restrictions resulted in more changes. The current irrigation method for citrus is based on low-level systems with under-tree sprinklers or drippers to improve distribution, reduce evaporation losses, keep saline water off leaves and save water. These may be automated to varying degrees, depending on the finances available to the farmer.

(source: John Steed through Arthur Tideman 2006)