NSW Department of Primary Industries | CSU Homepage
30 June 2006
Introducing the new Irrigation Research and Demonstration area
On the 10th of May stage one of Charles Sturt University 's Irrigation Research and Demonstration area was commissioned. The new facilities allow Graham Centre researchers to carry out irrigation studies in a controlled, field-scale setting. This avoids the logistical problems encountered when conducting experiments on farms and provides a setting for sensitive experiments, such as those involving new cultivars or biological agents.
At present the research area consists of a water tank, three dams, a series of control valves and flow meters and nine bays including rice paddies and varying slopes for testing furrow irrigation. When stage two is completed the area will be fitted with water measuring devices to accurately measure and log the water use in each of the bays in the area.
Development of the Irrigation Research and Demonstration area started with the Federally-funded Irrigation Initiative at Charles Sturt University and industry support from a range of sources including Horticulture Australia , the Murrumbidgee Horticultural Council, Murrumbidgee Irrigation, Coleambally Irrigation, the Rice Cooperative Research Centre, the Rice Growers Association, McCaughey Memorial Institute, Netafim Australia and Visy Industries. More recently, a Charles Sturt University research infrastructure grant provided the funds to accomplish stage one and two.
For more information on the irrigation facilities contact Dr Asitha Katupitiya (02 6933 2938).