6 Conclusions and Recommendations
The purpose of this project was to develop a prototype irrigation water use meter that could be easily installed and used with reliable results on all types of pressurised irrigation systems.
The basic requirements listed in Section 3.1 have largely been met.
The meter has been constructed with a good quality, watertight case to ensure robustness. Installation will be very easy, as it can be connected into a system anywhere a pressure tapping is available. The user interface is simple, and should be able to be operated by farmers given limited written instructions. Battery life has been calculated to last for a typical irrigation season. The meter has been designed so that the retail price, including the pressure sensor, is expected to be less than $1000.
Although the accumulated volume resets to zero when the batteries are changed, we do not see this as a significant problem because batteries will need to be replaced each year, and it seems logical to reset the accumulated volume at the same time.
The meter is currently undergoing field testing on a frost protection irrigation system, and other than some minor software problems, has performed to specification. These small problems will be rectified and at the beginning of the irrigation season (October 1998), the meter will be installed on an irrigator for further testing.
As we are confident that the prototype meter will fill the need identified in the previous year’s MAF Policy Research projects, another two meters will be constructed for use on the 1998/99 MAF Policy project to further test the Best Management Guidelines and calculate the Indicators of Sustainable Irrigation.
7 References
IRRICAD™ : Irrigation design software package developed by AEI Software, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Lincoln Environmental (1997): Indicators of sustainable irrigated agriculture. Report to MAF Policy, Report No 2720/1. MAF Policy Technical Paper 00/03
Lincoln Environmental (1997): Best management guidelines for sustainable irrigated agriculture. Report to MAF Policy, Report No 2720/2. MAF Policy Technical Paper 00/05
Lincoln Environmental (1998): Testing of best management guidelines. Report to MAF Policy, Report No 2780/1. MAF Policy Technical Paper 00/06
McEwan, G; Smith, G; Speidel, S (1998): Compliance monitoring of the West Melton restricted water use zone. Canterbury Regional Council unpublished report No U98/06
Wells, C; Barber, A (1998): Field testing indicators of sustainable irrigated agriculture. Agriculture New Zealand report to MAF Policy. MAF Policy Technical Paper 00/04
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