Irrigation efficiency in a radiata pine nursery.  L. J. Bren and P. W. Farrell.  April 1982.  13 pp. (unpubl.)

SUMMARY

Study of run-off from an irrigated area of the Benalla radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don) Nursery in North-eastern Victoria, showed that approximately 13% of applied water was lost as run-off. The soil surface had a tendency to crust, thus requiring frequent inter-row cultivation to ensure the efficient entry of water into the rooting zone of the developing seedlings.

As well as inter-row cultivation to improve infiltration, run-off loss can be further reduced by forming the nursery beds so that water is ponded on their surface. Current green-cropping regimes, combined with the incorporation of large amounts of bulk organic matter into the surface soil, also show considerable promise in increasing the rate of water infiltration, and hence irrigation efficiency in this nursery.

Also published:

Bren, L.J. and Farrell, P.W. (1982)  Irrigation efficiency in a radiata pine nursery.  For. Comm. Vic., For. Tech. Pap. 29: 25-32.