Researching Solutions to the Sustainability and Environmental Challenges for Rice-based Cropping Systems in Southern Australia (2005)

Humphreys, E Beecher, G Christen, E Williams, R Xevi, E Thompson, J Blackwell, J Lewin, L

2005

This CRC report presents the possible research solutions to the sustainability and environmental challenges for rice-based cropping systems in southern Australia. The report presents information on of four key areas including increasing water use efficiency and reducing recharge from rice paddock. This area includes rice paddock water use limits, rice soil suitability and agronomic option for reducing recharge for rice. The second area was conjunctive use of ground water. Whilst the third focus was management tools this presented information on tools such as SWAGMAN Devine and SWAGMAN farmer, ground water models and policy models. The fourth area was management of saline drainage with a focus on serial biological concentrate of salt and evaporation basins. A pilot trial is also underway to investigate the feasibility of serial biological concentration, with the production of high value crops in the first 2 stages, followed by salt tolerant crops (stage 3), fish farming (4), evaporation basins (5) and a solar pond to generate energy.