- Objective Title:Decision-support software for agricultural planning.
- Objective Title:Rural stream health expert system
- Objective Title:Indicators of sustainable irrigated agriculture
- Objective Title: BMP guidelines for irrigated agriculture
- Objective Title:Practical indicators, monitoring systems and management practices for the sustainability of irrigated agriculture
- Objective Title:Best management practice guidelines for irrigated agriculture
8.2 - Water
8.2.1
| Objective Title:Decision-support software for agricultural planning. Research Leader: Dr H Rodda Institution:NIWA |
For the next year of the project, further testing and validation of the DSS is required using detailed information from existing catchment datasets such as Ngongotaha, Oteramika (Southland) and Scotmans Valley (Waikato). This will ensure a high degree of accuracy, reliability, and robustness of the system as opposed to validation using the land resource inventory (LRI) database which does not have current data. Additional development and testing of the DSS is necessary to enable simulations at a country-wide scale using more general information directly from the databases. Researchers then plan to employ the validation DSS to test the effects of various agricultural management scenarios on production and water quality at farm scale, catchment scale and regional scale. Examples would include a comparison of different land uses such as dairy, dry stock and forestry, and the implementation of best managements practices within the current land use. The DSS will also be developed to allow the use of new water quality and agricultural production models as they become available.
8.2.2
| Objective Title:Rural stream health expert system Research Leader: Dr B Biggs Institution:NIWA |
The expert system will be based on a hard-copy "Data Interpretation" section being prepared for the Stream Health Monitoring Kit. It will be accessed via FARMON and will use stream health and other data stored in FARMON. Its design, using expert system software, will allow user choices in degree of analyses. If a farmer decides not to use it interactively then the output will be abasic assessment of a streams condition. With increasing interaction, the user will be presented with options (and explanations) at certain stages. This makes the processes involved in interpreting data transparent to users, and exposes possible links between stream health and their land management practices. The system will therefore assist farmers to understand how their farm management practices may affect stream quality. During development, the system will be tested and feedback sought from the farming community via the Rural Futures Trust.
8.2.3
| Objective Title:Indicators of sustainable irrigated agriculture Research Leader: Dr I McIndoe Institution/Business: Lincoln Ventures Ltd |
This study will identify a range of potential indicators of sustainable water-use, assess them in conjunction with the farming industry to identify likely practical indicators, and trial them to verify their practicality and efficacy.
8.2.4
| Objective Title: BMP guidelines for irrigated agriculture Research Leader: Dr I McIndoe Institution/Business: Lincoln Ventures Ltd |
This objective will develop and publish Best Management Practice Guidelines covering the design and operation of irrigation systems for crop production and effluent disposal. The guidelines will provide practical information on how to improve the water-use performance of irrigated agriculture, as measured by the indicators identified in Objective 8.2.3.
8.2.5
| Objective Title:Practical indicators, monitoring systems and management practices for the sustainability of irrigated agriculture Research Leader: Dr J Bright Institution:Lincoln Ventures Ltd. |
The aim is to identify a range of potential indicators of sustainable water-use, assess them in conjunction with the farming industry to identify likely practical indicators, and trial them to verify their practicality and efficacy.
8.2.6
| Objective Title:Best management practice guidelines for irrigated agriculture Research Leader: Dr J Bright Institution:Lincoln Ventures Ltd. |
The aim is to develop and publish Best Management Practice Guidelines covering the design and operation of irrigation systems for crop production and effluent disposal. The guidelines will provide practical information on how to improve the water-use performance of irrigated agriculture, as measured by the indicators identified in Objective 8.2.3.
Contact for Enquiries
Manager
Monitoring and Evaluation
MAF Policy
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0623
Fax: +64 4 894 0741
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