Evaluation of strategies for increasing irrigation water productivity of maize in southern New South Wales using the MaizeMan model
E. Humphreys A B E , R. J. G. White C , D. J. Smith A and D. C. Godwin DA CSIRO Land and Water, PMB3 Griffith, NSW 2680, Australia.
B Present address: Challenge Program on Water and Food, International Rice Research Institute, DAPO 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines.
C 2 Gunn Drive, Estella, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
D Altin Park, Dubbo, NSW 2830, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: e.humphreys@cgiar.org
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48(3) 304-312 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA06092
Submitted: 14 March 2006 Accepted: 7 February 2007 Published: 4 February 2008
Abstract
MaizeMan is Windows-based decision support software, derived from CERES Maize and SWAGMAN Destiny, which can be used for real-time irrigation scheduling or strategic analysis. Evaluation of MaizeMan for sprinkler and furrow-irrigated maize (Pioneer 3153) showed good predictive ability for yield, biomass, runoff and soil water depletion between sowing and harvest. MaizeMan simulations using 43 years of weather data from Griffith, New South Wales, suggested that the biggest influence on yield, irrigation requirement and irrigation water productivity is seasonal weather conditions. For example, yield of October-sown 3153 irrigated frequently to avoid soil water deficit varied from about 8 to 16 t/ha, while net irrigation and net irrigation water productivity varied from 7 to 11 ML/ha and 0.8 to 1.6 t/ML, respectively. The optimum sowing window for maximising yield and irrigation water productivity is wide, from late September to mid November. Delaying sowing beyond this may result in higher yield and irrigation water productivity; however, delayed maturity would lead to problems for grain drying and harvesting in winter and increased insect pressure. The simplest management strategy for maximising yield and irrigation water productivity is irrigation scheduling tailored to soil type. Irrigation scheduling can be assisted by real-time scheduling using MaizeMan, provided soil hydraulic properties are accurately characterised. One to two irrigations can also be saved by growing shorter duration hybrids, but the tradeoff is lower yield, while irrigation water productivity is maintained. Simulated sprinkler irrigation increased yield and net irrigation water productivity by small amounts (averages of 0.5 t/ha and 0.2 t/ML, respectively) relative to well-scheduled flood irrigation, through improved soil water and aeration status and reduced deep drainage loss.
Acknowledgements
The development of MaizeMan was initiated by Professor Wayne Meyer of CSIRO Land and Water and supported with funds from GRDC. We thank Brad Fawcett (CSIRO Land and Water) for excellent technical support. We are grateful for input from members of the project steering committee, workshop participants and farmers for access to crops, especially Nick Hutchins, Nick Maynard, Sam Mancini, Paul Lander and Tim and Roger Commins. We also thank Professor Meyer and Drs Jagadish Timsina and Warren Muirhead for their feedback on drafts of this paper.
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