- Factors Influencing Direct Deposition of Cattle Faecal Material in Riparian Zones
- Feasibility Report for Marlborough Water Augmentation Scheme
- Feasibility Study - Stage 1 - For the Kakahu Irrigation Society
- Feasibility Study - Stage 1 for the Aoraki Water Trust Irrigation Scheme
- Field Proven Irrigation Efficiency Benchmarks
- Field testing indicators of sustainable irrigated agriculture study
- Financial benefits of making improvements to an irrigation system : a case study
- Financial Structures for Community Owned Irrigation Schemes
- Freshwater Policy
- Future Water Allocation Issues
F
Abstract: Goal: To establish beef cattle defecation frequency and distribution on hill country in New Zealand and quantify the effects of a number of environmental factors. This information is likely to be used in a model to predict the effect of factors influencing stream water quality. Context of the project: Livestock farming has been suggested to be one of the major causes of deterioration of riparian areas and water quality. Microbes and nutrients from manure enter streams by several potential pathways. One direct deposition from the animals as they drink, graze, or otherwise spend time in and along the stream. It has been suggested that the impact of defecation on aquatic ecosystems may be resolved by excluding stock from streams by fences. However, fencing would be economically prohibitive in the United States (Platts & Wagstaff, 1984) and in New Zealand (Bettjeman, 1997). There have been few studies on the effect of cattle defecation in streams under New Zealand farming conditions. The aims of this project were to establish beef cattle defecation frequency and distribution on hill country in New Zealand and quantify the effects of season; an alternative water source to the stream; other resources near the stream (shade); size of the field; and pasture availability. Approach: In a study examining factors influencing the use of streams by cattle (Bagshaw, 2001),three experiments were carried out. During the course of these experiments the location and timing of defecation for each animal was recorded. The defecation data from the three experiments were amalgamated. Outcomes: · Beef cattle on hill country in New Zealand defecate in the riparian zone at a rate of 0.2 faeces per cow per day. Half of the faeces were deposited in the water and the other half were deposited within the 2m stream bank (demarcated as the riparian zone in this study). · There was an indication that the number of faeces deposited by a cow in the riparian zone is related to the amount of time the individual spends in that area. · Beef cattle in this study spent on average 4 percent of the day in the riparian zone and cows voided about 4 percent of the expected number of faeces in this time. Despite the relatively low number of faeces deposited in the riparian area, the impact may be high on water quality. · The numbers of defecations in the riparian zone were not affected by season, the presence of a trough, other resources next to the stream, field size, or pasture availability. · If management rather than exclusion techniques are to be used to prevent cattle from defecating in streams then we need to understand how to control animals by manipulating resources in the environment. · Previous study by Bagshaw (2001) investigated the relative importance of resources in the riparian zone. The stream was found to be used daily and all the resources investigated were used (water to drink, water to cool, shade, and forage specific to the riparian area). The relative importance of these resources to cattle is still unclear. · Amelioration methods to reduce the amount of faeces deposited in riparian zones could include: 1) the manipulation of the availability of the factors near the stream (such as water to drink, water for cooling, shade or forage specific to the riparian area); 2) reducing the availability of resting sites; 3) presenting combinations of attractive resources distant from the stream. · Further studies are required to determine behavioural techniques to reduce the amount of faecal material deposited directly in riparian zones.
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Title: |
Feasibility Report for Marlborough Water Augmentation Scheme |
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Author: |
Callander, P. |
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Publisher: |
Pattle Delamore Partners Ltd |
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Pub Date: |
2002 |
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Available: |
MAF Wellington |
Abstract: The feasibility study has been prepared to describe the scheme that is planned to resolve these water shortage issues in an effort to realise the many potential benefits. Section 2 defined the scheme area and the reasons why a community scheme can create a benefit within this chosen area. Section 3 describes the likely demand for irrigation water within the study area. Section 4,5,6 consider the water source and the use of storage to meet the water demand. Section 7 sets out the scheme design. Sections 8 and 9 describe the economic and environmental feasibility. Section 10 describes the resource consents that are being applied for and section 11 presents a concluding comment.
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Abstract: This report is based on a single best option for the transportation of water from the Opuha River through to the Kakahu River. Lake Opuha provides sufficient storage of water for the various schemes and an application rate of 0.41 litres per second per hectare will procide for an efficient irrigation scheme.
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Abstract: Through surveying and shareholder participation the scheme concept and boundaries have been identified and from this the construction of the main race and individual schemes has been assessed. The surveying as described in the preceding section of the report outlines the areas and the quantity required to estimate construction costs and ability to supply water to the different catchments.
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Title: |
Field Proven Irrigation Efficiency Benchmarks |
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Author: |
Rout, B., Caran, P. & McIndoe, I. |
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Publisher: |
Lincoln Environmental |
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Pub Date: |
2002 |
Abstract: The project monitored the performance of three border-strip areas and two travelling irrigators over three irrigation seasons 1999-2002.
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Title: |
Field testing indicators of sustainable irrigated agriculture study |
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Author: |
Wells, C. |
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Publisher: |
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
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Web Link: |
www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/sustainable-resource-use/irrigation/field-testing/httoc.htm.pdf |
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Pub Date: |
1998 |
Abstract: The purpose of this project was to test, under field conditions, a set of indicators developed for sustainable irrigated agriculture. This has been part of an ongoing programme of research into indicators of sustainable agriculture. The set of indicators developed for MAF by Lincoln Environmental in 1996/97 was used as the basis of the trial. These indicators are given in Table 1.1 along with comments about each indicator, arising from the trial.
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Title: |
Financial benefits of making improvements to an irrigation system : a case study |
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Author: |
Borrie, N. |
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Publisher: |
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
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Web Link: |
|
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Pub Date: |
1998 |
Abstract: The primary objective of this project was to demonstrate that improvements to the design of a cropping farm irrigation system were financially beneficial. A 164 ha spray irrigation farm near Darfield on the Canterbury Plains that grows a range of crops was chosen for this study.
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Title: |
Financial Structures for Community Owned Irrigation Schemes |
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Publisher: |
Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu |
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Pub Date: |
2001 |
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Available: |
MAF Policy Nelson |
Abstract: Provides a resource document that community based groups are able to use to determine the most appropriate legal/business structures, funding structures and pricing mechanisms to facilitate the establishment and operation of the water use options.
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Title: |
Freshwater Microbiological Research programme |
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Publisher: |
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
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Pub Date: |
1998 |
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Title: |
Freshwater Policy |
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Publisher: |
Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu |
Abstract: Morning mists, ice, snow, and the rain, descendants of Raki that sustain Papatuanuku and give new life for the summer
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Title: |
Future Water Allocation Issues |
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Author: |
Hegarty, S., Thomas, A. & Phillips, F. |
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Publisher: |
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry |
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Web Link: |
|
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Pub Date: |
2001 |
Abstract: The ability to accurately project the likely demand on water resources by creating a vision of New Zealand agriculture and forestry landuse is critical to the future development of many regions. Regions with affordably sustainable water resources will have a distinct advantage in attracting economic development finance from the investment community. Regions with increasing demands on water resources will have to apply logical development programmes to meet the demand and optimise the use of the resources under their stewardship. This process exposes a range of issues to consider including the environmental sustainability of certain land uses and their economic viability.
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