growers@sgcotton.com.au Roger Tomkins - Greenmount Press

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Launch bay area, notice the depression (trough) along the top of the rows to ensure even water distribution between rows. out yielded the original farm for the first time. This improvement was associated with reduced water logging as they are now able to get water on and off fields quickly. The evolution of design Saunders Farming initially started working with Olive Hood more than seven years ago, using the Irrimate tool which confirmed that the only real option for efficient watering was to run the system with higher flow rates (due to run length and soil type). But higher flow rates needed an increased number of siphons and hence the labour to start them. Therefore the team investigated options for retro-fitting the existing irrigation infrastructure so it was easier to maintain, reduced labour, allowed uniformity of application across the farm and increased water use efficiency. Then four years ago, Craig told Justin he was “sick of changing siphons – so we’ve got to come up with a better way to irrigate.” Since then the farm has progressed from using 1.5 inch siphons on 1000-metre row lengths for 24-hour waterings, to three-inch siphons on 1000-metre rows taking 12 hours, to the first pipe through the bank (PTB) system. Initially flexible fluming was installed inside the head ditch. While working really well for two hours it then blocked up with short lengths of grass stopping the water flow completely. Undeterred, the team then tried through-the-bank pipes made FIGuRE 2: Aerial view of PTB irrigation demonstrating pipe outlet situated in guess row away from wheel tracks Irrigating with PTB system, St George. from recycled milk bottles (Green Pipe), set at 12-metre spacings and watering 11 furrows each. This system uses adjustable flaps to control water flow. The team attribute the ability to either adjust the flap, or adjust the head on the head ditch to achieve an optimum water output, as a key to the system’s success. The variable system has meant cotton fields could be watered according to the crop’s specific requirements at the time, with rates adjusted during the watering based on extensive data from C-Probes, Irrimate and the new SISCO (Surface Irrigation Simulation Calibration and Optimisation) tool. The 2011–12 season will see the entire cotton irrigation area being watered with the PTB pipes and one centre pivot machine. “We’ve gone and identified whatever the design constraints are and then we built a system around that… I think if you were to follow that procedure, you would end up with a great result as well.” uniformity between rows The use of PTBs within the cotton industry is not new, although they fell out of favour with many growers as it was difficult to obtain uniform flow into each furrow. Saunders Farming and WaterBiz have overcome these issues by narrowing the spacing between the pipes to 12 metres. The diameter of the pipes is also smaller than trialled in other areas, allowing finer control of discharge. Uniform flow down each row is obtained through a trough across the top of the rows in the launch bay area (Figure 2). Water comes out of the PTBs and fills this depression before rising up and evenly flowing down the furrows. The other important factor affecting uniformity between the rows is the high flow rate being used. This flow is much higher than that used by most other irrigation properties. Justin believes 24 — The Australian Cottongrower August–September 2012
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Page 1 and 2: August-September 2012 www.cottongro
Page 3 and 4: In this issue... 2012 Cotton Grower
Page 5 and 6: The trouble with buying old technol
Page 7 and 8: We’re with you from the beginning
Page 9 and 10: BE READY FOR ULTIMATE PRODUCTIVITY
Page 11 and 12: Roger Tomkins: 0409 100 036 Louise
Page 13 and 14: Field proven irrigation power John
Page 15 and 16: 16th Cotton Conference roundup AFTE
Page 17 and 18: Delegates may have found out more t
Page 19 and 20: You’re in control of your future.
Page 21 and 22: 2013 FARM STUDY TOURS For More Info
Page 23: Water Matters… Series supported b
Page 27 and 28: Nutrition feature… Impact of nitr
Page 29 and 30: (ADVERTORIAL) Local Trials Show Bio
Page 31 and 32: SOIL organic carbon (SOC) is an imp
Page 33 and 34: and minimise the loss of stubble-C.
Page 35 and 36: WORLD COMMODITY WATCH India Specula
Page 37 and 38: documented, the Chinese state reser
Page 39 and 40: 3100% Australian Cotton 3100% Austr
Page 41 and 42: for the position between the gin st
Page 43 and 44: The trial crop has yielded around s
Page 45 and 46: FIGuRE: 3 Relationship between EM34
Page 47 and 48: Temik, is in short supply and is sc
Page 49 and 50: The joys (or otherwise) of tractor
Page 51 and 52: in Australia), when it finally erup
Page 53 and 54: Germinating ideas By CSD Extension
Page 55 and 56: Evaluation of insecticides for cont
Page 57 and 58: NEW Holland’s most powerful tract
Page 59 and 60: Students visit cotton districts CAL
Page 61 and 62: District Reports… Central Queensl
Page 63 and 64: Darling Downs The 2012 cotton seaso

growers@sgcotton.com.au Roger Tomkins - Greenmount Press

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