| Abstrakt: |
The article offers observation on the continuous monitoring of water storage levels at Milo cotton farm in Australia. According to Tony Bailey, who manages the irrigated cotton at Milo, water is the most valuable resource for them. And with the increasing pressure on water security, they need to measure the resource to enable them to better manage it. In doing so, they can ensure the longevity of a sustainable irrigated cotton production system. The drought, although devastating for most, offered the farm an opportunity to start the process of measuring their water stored on-farm. The team set about Beelining, the dry water storages, using their own equipment to determine the volume of the dams. The volume of the water stores in the dams is calibrated to an Odyssey pressure sensor which enables the storage depth, in-flows and out-flows to be continuously monitored. Knowing how much water the producers have in on-farm storages empowers the grower and creates opportunities to fine its use. The monitoring of levels in storages adds another dimension to the management of water on-farm at Milo. Improved water budgets with accurate water balances enables Milo to fine tune their area of production, the amount of tail-water recovered and the amount of water applied in-field. |
