The "On-ground Water Use Efficiency Project" is currently working in partnership with leading providers of soil moisture monitoring technology Sentek Sensor Technologies, Aquaflex Australia, and Measurement Engineering Australia (MEA); to demonstrate a range of soil moisture monitoring systems specifically designed for shallow rooted annual crops grown in the Lower Murray.
Demonstration sites have been established on grower's properties at Murray Bridge to trial the Theta Probe, Sentek's EasyAg probe, Aquaflex sensor, and gypsum blocks using the new GBug to log readings in highland pasture and vegetable crops. Recordings are taken to measure any improvements in irrigation efficiency over the duration of the trial. The demonstration sites are available to all irrigators to visit and see how the equipment operates. This project will be organising field days at the sites where the growers will be on hand to provide information and advice on the operation of the system and the distributors will be available to answer technical questions. The trials will run for an initial period of 1 year.
The Lower Murray Soil Moisture Monitoring Trials have been established to show irrigators a sample of the range of soil moisture equipment available to assist in scheduling of irrigations. The selected equipment for demonstration was based on the needs of the area, management, and to suit the majority of shallow rooted crops.
Trial Devices
Sentek's new EasyAg probe was selected for use in vegetable crops. Sentek's EasyAg provides a simple solution to the continual rotation of land which requires the probe to be moved to the next field. The advantages of this system include:
- Easy to install
- Specifically designed for shallow rooted crops
- Maintains the reputable features of the internationally recognised Enviroscan technology
- Provides high quality data
- Easy to use software to assist scheduling
- Provides little soil disturbance
- Continuous Logging
MEA's Theta Probe
MEA's Theta Probe was selected for its accuracy and ability to take sample readings at different locations. This system can either be used for portable spot readings or fixed by burring in one location. The advantages of this system include:
- Easy to install
- Spot readings can be taken
- Simple to use
- Accurate soil measurement
- Robust
- Buried out of sight
MEA's GBug system (using gypsum blocks)
MEA's GBug system (using gypsum blocks) was selected as a cheaper alternative that can be logged. Continuous logging systems are important due to the frequent irrigations needed for shallow rooted crops and lack of time available to take spot readings. Other advantages of this system include:
- Easy to install
- Simple to download data
- Simple to use
- Cost effective
- Buried out of sight
Aquaflex Australia
Aquaflex Australia is the wholesale distributor for the Aquaflex probe from Street Instruments, a New Zealand based company. This unique probe is in the form of a 3 metre long tape which continuously analyses the soil, a moisture and temperature reading at set grazing, and gives averaged data over 6L of soil. It is also useful for other crops like vegetables. The advantages of this system are:
- Large area sampled
- Robust
- Loggable
- Temperature can be read
- Continuously sampling (Time Delay Transmission method)
- Accurate
- Buried out of sight