Beneficial use irrigation strategies with treated urban effluent : Final report 972471

Abstract

Objectives for research:1. To identify the demand for effluent water by comparing three levels of water application to assess economics of crop response to water, and the impact on balancing storage capacity;2. To select irrigation strategies which (a) minimise impact on deep drainage and watertable elevation, (b) which sustain or improve water quality of adjoining streams and (c) which allay any concerns with community health issues;3. To develop a soil management system to optimise capacity of the crop to take effluent waters, while maximising productivity under wet conditions. This will allow future adoption of the green cane production system and its large environmental and community benefits;4. To monitor changes in soil salinity and sodicity associated with irrigation;5. To use historic weather records and a water balance model to place project results in an historic perspective and determine long-term probability for water use and storage needs;6. To ensure community and industry ownership of the project, and its outputs, through a participative extension process.