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Irrigation In South-Western Australia, K S. Cole

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE pattern of irrigation in South-Western Australia is constantly changing, At present, the main increase is in the private sector.

In the past century, there has been a see-saw effect from private to Government to private schemes.

Clay Cover For Roaded Catchments, J L. Frith, R. A. Nulsen

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RECENT dry years have stimulated interest in improved catchments for farm dams. Although roaded catchments have been installed on many farm dams in Western Australia, most of them fall short of their potential for increasing run-off.

Growing Plants With Salty Water, C V. Malcolm, S. T. Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LACK of good quality water in many parts of Western Australia often forces people to use salty water for irrigation and gardening.

This article gives some hints on how to reduce salt damage to plants when salty water must be used for irrigation or gardening.

It includes a table of plants which may be irrigated with water of varying degrees of salinity and lists precautions which should be taken for each group.

Grain Sorghum In The Ord Valley : Three Crops A Year?, P J. May

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

High temperatures and ample irrigation water allow grain sorghum to be grown throughout the year on the Ord River Irrigation Area, and observations in 1969-70 indicated that it may be possible in this area to produce three crops in one year from one planting, by ratoon cropping.

This article describes the technique and discusses its possibilities on the Ord.

The sorghum midge, one of the worst pests of sorghum, could well make ratoon cropping impossible, but the midge has not yet been seen in this area.

Range Evaluation Using Aerial Photography, D G. Wilcox

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Department of Agriculture, in association with the University of Western Australia, recently undertook a study of the application of aerial photography to range condition monitoring in three rangeland types in the mulga zone of Western Australia.

The project was financed by the Rural Credits Development Fund and the C.S.l.R.O. Rangelands Research Unit.

This article deals in a general way with the possible use of aerial photography in rangeland administration.

Sprinkler Irrigation In Windy Conditions, K S. Cole, G. C. Brown

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THOSE summer winds—be they cooling afternoon breezes or scorching easterlies—are no help to the irrigationist.

Where sprinklers are used wind can result in uneven irrigation, reduced yields and spoilt produce.

Low Cost Filter For Trickle Irrigation, C R. Coffman, G. L. Godley

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

CLEAR water is essential for a successful trickle irrigation scheme. Most water sources are not sufficiently clean and some form of filtration is necessary.

Farm Dams In High Rainfall Areas, G C. Brown

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

WATER storage is essential on most south-west farms to ensure adequate irrigation supplies in the dry summers. Government irrigation water supply schemes are limited and most farmers must supply their own water storage.

Simple Evaporimeter For Timing Trickle Irrigation, C R. Coffman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DIFFERENCES in soil types and size of trees in orchards make it impossible to give a single recommendation for trickle irrigation running time.

Daily running time for each situation can be simply and fairly accurately calculated from weekly readings of an easily constructed evaporimeter.

Testing Grain Crops, H M. Fisher

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

TODAY'S competitive markets for crop products stress the need for greater awareness of buyers' requirements and more detailed knowledge about our ability to supply them.

Crop varieties and their performance in different environments are important aspects of production potential.

Irrigating With Underground Water, T C. Calder

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MANY farmers in South-West areas are looking to irrigation to increase and diversify farm production, particularly on the sandy coastal plain where irrigation in summer is essential for vegetable, fruit and fodder production.

Tree Establishment In The Wheatbelt, F Batini

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Although most of the Forests Department's activity has centred around the State Forests in the higher rainfall areas, the Department has, for many years, encouraged the planting and conservation of trees throughout the farming areas.

New Varieties Could Extend The Peach Canning Season, S R J Newton

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE peach canning industry in Western Australia at present has only a limited period of operation, coinciding with the harvest time of the major variety, Golden Queen.

New canning peach varieties tested at Stoneville Research Station could be used to extend the harvest period of canning peaches beyond that of the present standard variety, Golden Queen.

This would have obvious advantages for growers and a canning industry.

The South African variety Keimoes was the most promising canning peach tested. Tests on other varieties are continuing.

Trickle Irrigation, B Swan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE introduction of trickle irrigation has caused tremendous interest among commercial irrigators. While not a new concept, its application was formerly restricted to glasshouse and nursery use.

Land Levelling With Scrapers, K R. Southon

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A VARIETY of earth-moving equipment can be used in preparing land for flood irrigation, but the best machine for extensive earth moving over some distance is a power-driven, carry-all scraper.

Control Of Water Resources In W.A, T C. Calder

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Use of underground and surface water is controlled so that the supplies are available to the general benefit of all domestic, industrial and agricultural users in a particular area.

Water is a valuable resource and its contamination and wastage must be avoided. This article outlines the provisions of the Rights in Water Act which is designed to protect water supplies from undue exploitation, contamination and wastage.