Australian Growers Producing More with Less Water

Data from the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) has shown wheat farmers are producing more with less around the country

Data from the Australian Export Grains Innovation Centre (AEGIC) has shown wheat farmers are producing more with less around the country.

A comprehensive data map shows that between 1982 and 2012, many wheat growing regions have improved water use efficiency by between 50 and 100 per cent.

AEGIC agro-meteorologist David Stephens said there had been a major shift in farming systems.

Dr Stephens said a key change to farming was that grain growers were planting much earlier in the year.

But he said there was no single reason why growers had made such dramatic improvements.

"We've seen farmers plant better varieties with more nitrogen," he said.

"They've been able to use knockdown herbicides once the weeds come up in the crops.

"They're really taking out factors that were reducing crop yields."

Source: ABC

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1 Comment

1. Dear all, This is indeed a major step forward, although it probably implies both genetics and intrants' increase. Is AEGIC also involved in maize? If so, we would like to invite Dr Stephen and all interested party to visit www.guilspare.com. Guilspare is an autodegradable liquid mulch preventing water from evaporation in hot and arid areas, such as most of Australia. Maintaining water within reach to the crop in the soil by deleting evaporation can save up to 50% fresh water use. A scientific article is available upon request. BR, Laurent H. Selles WIPO GREEN Advisor & Guilford Holding Administrator Switzerland Skype: selles.patenterprise E-mail: laurent.selles@worldonline.fr