A survey of water use efficiency on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Linehan ◽  
D. P. Armstrong ◽  
P. T. Doyle ◽  
F. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Water Right ◽  
Use Efficiency

Water use efficiency (WUE) in irrigated dairy systems has been defined, in this paper, as the amount of milk (kg milk fat plus protein) produced from pasture per megalitre of water (irrigation plus effective rainfall). A�farm survey was conducted for the 1997–98 and 1998–99 seasons in the Goulburn Irrigation System (GIS) and Murray Irrigation System (MIS) when the irrigation water allocated to irrigators in the GIS was low (100–120% of water right compared with the MIS which was 130 and 200% of water right). These data were analysed in conjunction with information collected on the same farms in the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons when the irrigation water allocated to irrigators in both systems was above 150% of water right (Armstrong et al. 1998, 2000). The aim of the survey was to determine if the management decisions made by dairy farmers in seasons of low irrigation water allocations had an impact on WUE.Milk production averaged across the 2 irrigation systems increased significantly over the 5-year period (57 540–75 040 kg milk fat + protein per farm). Over the same period the amount of irrigation water applied (GIS�7.6 ML/ha, MIS 9.2 ML/ha) and the milking area (GIS 72 ha, MIS 73 ha) remained constant. The amount of concentrates fed per cow (GIS 650–1100 kg DM, MIS 480–860 kg DM) and per farm (GIS 119–228 t DM, MIS�72–157 t DM) increased, but pasture consumption (GIS 8.9–9.5 t DM/ha, MIS 9.1–9.7 t DM/ha) did not increase significantly over the survey period. Therefore, the increase in milk production appeared to come primarily from an increase in supplementary feeding rather than an increase in pasture consumption, resulting in no significant change in WUE in either system (GIS 66 kg milk fat + protein/ML, MIS 61 kg milk fat + protein/ML).The survey results indicate that despite varying water allocations in the 2 major irrigation systems in northern Victoria, milk production on farms in both systems increased while changes in WUE could not be detected by the methods used. This suggests tactical options to increase WUE in response to short-term changes in water allocation were either difficult to implement or not a priority in a business sense.

scholarly journals Strategies for Improved Water Use Efficiency (WUE) of Field-Grown Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) under a Semi-Arid Climate

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Michelon ◽  
Giuseppina Pennisi ◽  
Nang Ohn Myint ◽  
Francesco Orsini ◽  
Giorgio Gianquinto
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Lactuca Sativa ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Arid Climate ◽  
Lactuca Sativa L ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation Levels ◽  
Semi Arid

Water use efficiency is a main research target in agriculture, which consumes 70% of global freshwater. This study aimed at identifying sustainable water management strategies for the lettuce crop in a semi-arid climate. Three independent experiments were carried out on a commercial variety of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) by applying different irrigation levels based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), estimated through both the Hargreaves–Samani and Penman–Monteith equations. In the first experiment, one treatment was also guided by soil moisture sensors. In the second and third experiments, a factorial combination was used, combining the different irrigation levels with two soil mulching treatments, namely soil without mulch, and soil mulched with dried rice straw residues. The application of different irrigation levels significantly affected plant growth, yield, and physiology. Both the adoption of sensors for guiding irrigation and the application of mulching with straw promoted higher yield. As the irrigation water level was reduced, the WUE (water use efficiency) increased. WUE was also increased by covering the soil with mulch. The experiments point out that accurate management of irrigation water using a drip irrigation system associated with soil mulching increases yield and improves the WUE of lettuce crops in the Central Dry Zone, Myanmar.

Water-use efficiency on irrigated dairy farms in northern Victoria and southern New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 643 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. P. Armstrong ◽  
J. E. Knee ◽  
P. T. Doyle ◽  
K. E. Pritchard ◽  
O. A. Gyles
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Large Range ◽  
New South ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
High Water ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Use Efficiency

A survey of 170 randomly selected, irrigated, dairy farms in northern Victoria and 9 in southern New South Wales was conducted to examine and benchmark the key factors influencing water-use efficiency. Water-use efficiency was defined as the amount of milk (kg milk fat plus protein) produced from pasture per megalitre of water (irrigation plus effective rainfall). Information on water-use, milk production, supplementary feeding, farm size and type, pasture management, and irrigation layout and management was collected for each farm by personal interview for the 1994–95 and 1995–96 seasons. The farms were ranked in the order of water-use efficiency with the average farm compared with the highest and lowest 10% of farms. The range in water-use efficiency was 25–115 kg milk fat plus protein/ML, with the highest 10% averaging 94 kg/ML and the lowest 10% averaging 35 kg/ML. The large range in water-use efficiency indicated potential for substantial improvement on many farms. The high water-use efficiency farms, when compared with the low group: (i) produced a similar amount of milk from less water (387 v. 572 ML) (P<0.05), less land (48 v. 83 ha) (P< 0.05) and a similar number of cows (152 v. 143 cows); (ii) had higher estimated pasture consumption per hectare (11.5 v. 5.5 t DM/ha) (P<0.01) and per megalitre (1.0 v. 0.5 t DM/ML) (P<0.01); (iii) had higher stocking rates (3.2 v. 1.8 cows/ha) (P<0.01); (iv) used higher rates of nitrogen fertiliser (59 v. 18 kg N/ha.year) (P<0.05) and tended to use more phosphorus fertiliser (64 v. 34 kg P/ha.year) (P<0.10); (v) used similar levels of supplementary feed (872 v. 729 kg concentrates/cow); (vi) had higher milk production per cow (396 v. 277 kg fat plus protein) (P<0.05); and (vii) directed a higher proportion of the estimated energy consumed by cows into milk production (53 v. 46%) (P<0.05). The survey data confirmed that irrigated dairy farm systems are complex and variable. For example, the amount of feed brought in from outside the milking area varied from 0 to 74% of the estimated total energy used by a milking herd. There was a large range in the level of supplement input amongst the farms in the high water-use efficiency group, and in the low water-use efficiency group. This indicates that the management of the farming system has a greater impact on the efficiency of water-use on irrigated dairy farms, than the type of system. The data from the survey provide information for individual farms, a measure of the water-use efficiency of the industry, and an indication of the quality of regional land and water resources.

scholarly journals The Policy of Irrigation Water Pricing in Pakistan: Aims, Assessment and Needed Redirections

1993 ◽  
Vol 32 (4II) ◽  
pp. 809-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ghaffar Chaudhry ◽  
Syed Abdul Majid ◽  
Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry
Keyword(s):  
Income Distribution ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Water Pricing ◽  
Cost Recovery ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Water Charges ◽  
Use Efficiency

Pakistan operates the world's largest well-articulated irrigation system. Individual farms receive water from the gravity flow of a massive network of canals, distributaries and watercourses fed by the Indus River and its tributaries. In recent years public tubewells have become an additional, though somewhat limited, source of irrigation water. The canal system, which has been in operation for more than 100 years, is believed to have become too obsolete to cater for the needs of modern agriculture and is, therefore, in desperate need for rehabilitation. But resource-poor Pakistan cannot undertake the rehabilitation work on its own, and must depend on foreign loans or at least ensure full recovery of annual operation and maintenance (0 and M) expenditures [Chaudhry (1985); Duane (1975) and Hotes (1984)]. Apart from generating investment funds, the cost recovery, with higher water charges, would also lead to greater water-use efficiency and an equitable income distribution at the farm level [Chaudhry (1985) and Hotes (1984»). Can this all be accomplished by simply raising water charges? In this paper, we have attempted to answer this question. To answer the question systematically, we have divided the paper in five sections. The current state of Pakistan's irrigation system, water charges and cost recovery is discussed in Section 2. Section 3 deals with possible impact of rising water charges on cost recovery, investments, efficiency of water use and income distribution under the current system of water pricing. Section 4 presents policy alternatives that would ensure an effective cost recoyery, greater water-use efficiency and a more equitable distribution of farm income. Section 5 presents the summary and conclusions of the paper.

scholarly journals Multi-Crop Production Decisions and Economic Irrigation Water Use Efficiency: The Effects of Water Costs, Pressure Irrigation Adoption, and Climatic Determinants

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yubing Fan ◽  
Raymond Massey ◽  
Seong Park
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
State Level ◽  
Water Application ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Irrigation Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

In an irrigated multi-crop production system, farmers make decisions on the land allocated to each crop, and the subsequent irrigation water application, which determines the crop yield and irrigation water use efficiency. This study analyzes the effects of the multiple factors on farmers’ decision making and economic irrigation water use efficiency (EIWUE) using a national dataset from the USDA Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey. To better deal with the farm-level data embedded in each state of the U.S., multilevel models are employed, which permit the incorporation of state-level variables in addition to the farm-level factors. The results show higher costs of surface water are not effective in reducing water use, while groundwater costs show a positive association with water use on both corn and soybean farms. The adoption of pressure irrigation systems reduces the soybean water use and increases the soybean yield. A higher EIWUE can be achieved with the adoption of enhanced irrigation systems on both corn and soybean farms. A high temperature promotes more the efficient water use and higher yield, and a high precipitation is associated with lower water application and higher crop yield. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) suggest a moderate variability in water application and EIWUE is accounted by the state-level factors with ICC values greater than 0.10.

scholarly journals Water-Use Efficiency and Productivity Improvements in Surface Irrigation Systems

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1759
Author(s):  
Carlos Chávez ◽  
Isaías Limón-Jiménez ◽  
Baldemar Espinoza-Alcántara ◽  
Jacobo Alejandro López-Hernández ◽  
Emilio Bárcenas-Ferruzca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Analytical Formula ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Irrigation District ◽  
Efficient Design ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Optimal Flow ◽  
Use Efficiency

In Mexico, agriculture has an allowance of 76% of the available water (surface and underground), although the average application efficiencies are below 50%. Despite the fact that in recent years modern pressurized irrigation systems have been the best option to increase the water-use efficiency (WUE), the gravity irrigation system continues to be the most used method to provide water to crops. This work was carried out during the 2014–2019 period in three crops, namely, barley, corn, and sorghum, in an irrigation district, showing the results of a methodology applied to gravity irrigation systems to increase the WUE. The results show that, with an efficient design, by means of irrigation tests, characterization of the plot, and the calculation of the optimal flow through an analytical formula, it was possible to reduce the irrigation times per hectare and the irrigation depth applied. Application efficiencies increased from 43% to 95%, while the WUE increased by 27, 38, and 47% for sorghum, barley, and corn, respectively. With this methodology, farmers are more attentive in irrigation because the optimal flow in each furrow or border is, in general, higher than that applied in the traditional way and they take less time to irrigate their plots. For farmers to adopt this methodology, the following actions are required: (a) be aware that the water that comes from dams is as valuable as the water from wells; (b) increase the irrigation quota; (c) seek government support to increase the WUE; and (d) show them that with less water they can have better yields.

scholarly journals Water Retention Techniques under Crop’s Root Zone a Tool to Enhance Water Use Efficiency and Economic Water Productivity for Zucchini

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 44-52
Author(s):  
Ali Hassan Hommadi ◽  
Sabah Anwer Almasraf
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Trickle Irrigation ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
T1 And T2 ◽  
Membrane Sheet

 A new technique in cultivation by installing membrane sheet below the crop’s root zone was helped to save irrigation water in the root zone, less farm losses, increasing the field water use efficiency and water productivity. In this paper, the membrane sheet was installed below the root zone of zucchini during the summer growing season 2017 in open field.  This research was carried out in a private field in Babil governorate at Sadat Al Hindiya Township reached 72 km from Baghdad. Surface trickle irrigation system was used for irrigation process. Two treatment plots were used, treatment plot T1 using membrane sheet and treatment plot T2 without using the membrane sheet. The applied irrigation water, time of irrigation, soil moisture contents before irrigation were calculated and recorded daily for the two treatments plots. Values of crop yield, Field water use Efficiency and economic water productivity were discussed and compared between the plots. The obtained results indicate that field water use efficiency for the two plots, T1 and T2 were: 6.04 and 4.64 kg/m3, respectively.  The increasing value in field water use efficiency (FWUE) of plot T1 comparing with plot T2 was 30.2 %. Additionally, the value of economic water productivity of zucchini crop for plots T1 and T2 was: 20514.1 and 15031.7 ID/m3, respectively. The increasing value of the Economic water productivity (EWP) of plot T1 comparing with plot T2 was 36.5 %. The value of water saving in plot T1 was 16.7%. The reduction in frequency of irrigation at T1 was 12 %.            zucchini, water use efficiency, membrane sheet, and economic water productivity.

scholarly journals Three essays on water management strategies in response to climate change

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Yubing Fan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
State Level ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Irrigation Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Farm Level ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

Due to climate change, the amount of rainfall, and its uneven temporal and spatial distribution, affect water availability. As a result, both households and farmers need to adapt to climate change by taking appropriate actions. This dissertation incorporates insights from scholarship on both adaptation to climate change and innovation adoption. For residents, adopting drought tolerant plants (DTPs) to conserve water use is a potential adaptation to the predicted effects of climate change. Survey responses from 624 households in Missouri are analyzed using a univariate probit model. DTPs adoption is positively correlated with both low and high household incomes, homeownership, living in rural subdivisions, mowing lawns high, time spent on yardwork, pro-environmental attitudes, and concerns about droughts. Policy interventions might include subsidizing the purchase of DTPs, requirements for use of DTPs in new housing developments, and targeted educational efforts. To encourage farmers to conserve water and use water more efficiently, understanding their decision-making on adoption of enhanced irrigation systems and scientific scheduling practices is essential. Using data from the national 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (FRIS) conducted by USDA, this dissertation employs a mixed and multilevel approach to analyze both land- and crop-specific irrigation decisions. Three land-level equations on irrigation share, irrigation application rate, and harvest share are estimated. Results show that irrigation share, application rate and harvest share are associated with variables related to water costs, farm size, irrigation systems, barriers to improvements, information sources, etc. In addition, the adoption decisions are analyzed focusing on corn and soybean farms using multilevel models (MLMs) as they can better deal with the farm-level data embedded in states. Application of MLMs to the analysis of farmers' adoption provides new insights on the proportion of variability in each response accounted for by farm- versus state-level factors. The results suggest that, while adoption is affected by land areas, off-farm surface water, various barriers and information sources, the variability of pressure irrigation adoption is mainly accounted for by factors at the state level, while the adoption of scientific scheduling practices is mainly accounted for by farm-level variation. Controlling for farm-level factors, farmers in areas with drought conditions in 2012, i.e., lower than average rainfall and higher than average temperatures, are more likely to have adopted pressure irrigation systems and scientific scheduling practices by 2013. In addition, sustainability of water resources requires producers to take account of marginal user costs when making production decisions. Adoption of enhanced irrigation systems and higher water cost can achieve potential improvements in irrigation water use efficiency. In a multicrop production system with irrigation, farmers make decisions about land allocated to each crop, irrigation water application, and their decisions, along with growing conditions, determine crop supply. This dissertation also analyses water application to multiple crops at the farm level and the effects of influential factors on irrigation water use efficiency of specific crops. As MLMs permit the incorporation of state-level variables, they are further applied in analyzing the multicrop production decisions and irrigation water use efficiency. The results show higher water price encourages efficient water use. Moreover, adoption of pressure irrigation systems could reduce soybean water use or increase corn yield. Adoption of pressure irrigation increases the economic irrigation water use efficiency on soybean farms. The findings from MLMs show that variables representing deviations from 30 year state average climate conditions in 2012 and 2013 have fairly consistent effects. Climate risks and higher temperatures promote more efficient water use and higher yields. Higher precipitation is correlated with lower water application and higher crop yield. Federal programs and policy should not only target specific barriers and increase the effectiveness of incentives at the farm level, but also address differing priorities in each state. Implications from these analyses should benefit future policy design and improve education programs.

scholarly journals Comparative water use efficiency of drip and furrow irrigation systems for off-season vegetables under plastic tunnel

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-71
Author(s):  
M Musa ◽  
M Iqbal ◽  
M Tariq ◽  
FH Sahi ◽  
NM Cheema ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation System ◽  
Total Yield ◽  
Furrow Irrigation ◽  
Bell Pepper ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Irrigation Systems ◽  
Use Efficiency

The experiment was conducted under plastic tunnel at Groundnut Research Station, Attock, Pakistan during 2006-2007 to 2008-2009 to determine water consumption by three off-season vegetables irrigated through drip and furrow systems, and to evaluate the comparative water use efficiency (WUE) of two irrigation systems in rain fed areas. Drip and furrow irrigation systems were tested on tomato, cucumber and bell pepper in this study. A permanent tunnel of 24 x 8 x 3 m was erected. Each crop was planted on 6 x 8 m under drip irrigation and on 6 x 2.70 m under furrow irrigation system. Water use efficiency was calculated as the ratio of total yield (kg) to total water consumed by the crop (m3). Each crop consumed less water under drip irrigation as compared to furrow irrigation system. Amomg crops, cucumber comsumed the least amount of water irrespective of irrigation systems. Average water use efficiency increased by 250% for tomato, 274% for cucumber and 245% for bell pepper under drip irrigation system as compared to furrow system. On the contrary, the average fruit yield increased only by 2.05% for tomato, 3.32% for cucumber and 2.35% for bell pepper in furrow irrigation over  drip irrigation. This suggested that drip irrigation has a greater scope for production of off-season vegetables especially in water scarce areas of Pakistan. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sja.v12i1.21113 SAARC J. Agri., 12(1): 62-71 (2014)

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