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| Irrigation Technology and Farm Management Information
 The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture works with farmers, agricultural advisers, service providers, industry groups and natural resource management groups to provide excellence in agricultural research, development, extension and education.
For further information contact Dr Leigh Sparrow, at the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture on 03 6336 5379 or email leigh.sparrow@utas.edu.au
Soil Texture - How the size of particles of soil affect its properties
Water available in soil - Getting irrigation right
Waterlogging in soil
Soil and Plant Testing - What's different about irrigated cropping?
Water Requirements of annual crops - How much water do you need?
Sprinkler Irrigation Systems
Soil Texture relates to the "feel" of a moist soil when it is manipulated between thumb and forefinger and depends on the relative amounts of sand, silt and clay particles in a soil. Some soils are sticky, others will not stick together at all, some feel "doughy" or "spongy" and other soils can be manipulated like plasticine. Soil texture affects the movement and availability of air, nutrients and water in a soil and is often used to estimate other soil properties, particularly soil water properties.
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Efficient irrigation requires the minimising of time the soil is either saturated or dry, and maximising the time when water is readily available to the plant. Soil is like a big sponge—it can only soak up a certain amount of water and it can only do it at a certain rate (infiltration rate). When soil is saturated there is no benefit in applying more water. Excess water produces plant stress through waterlogging, drainage to the watertable below the root zone, run-off and leaching of fertilisers.
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Waterlogging can limit agricultural productivity in many areas of Tasmania. Many soils experience parts of the year when they are saturated. Waterlogging occurs when the soil is so wet that there is insufficient oxygen in the pore space (anaerobic) for plant roots to be able to adequately breathe.
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Adequate nutrition is a vital part of profitable cropping. Irrigation increases the stakes. Crop yields and nutrient removal are higher under irrigation than for dryland crops, and fertiliser rates need to be adjusted accordingly to maximise returns on your irrigation investment. Soil and plant tests are important tools to help you decide (a) whether fertiliser is needed, and if so, (b) how much to apply.
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The amount of water that you need will depend on the crop you are growing, on whether you are farming in the hotter and dryer areas of the State rather than the cooler wetter districts, and will vary from season to season. The time of planting also an important factor.
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Practical issues for irrigation system planning
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