The future direction of on-farm irrigation technologies and practice research

Abstract

The Cooperative Research Centre for Irrigation Futures mission is to facilitate cooperative research and training networks and programs which continuously improve irrigation policy, tools, practices and processes. This paper provides an introduction to the current and planned research activities within the CRCIF with a particular focus on the tools and practices of relevance to improving on-farm water use efficiency. A key focus of this research is the delivery of research outcomes via toolkits which enhance the irrigation sector's ability to measure, monitor and manage the water balance at the field and farm scales, improve the precision of in-field irrigation applications and maximize agronomic responses to irrigation.