Feature article
Calculating irrigation need
Modelled water deficit at Winchmore for 2005–2006 (magenta curve).
Estimating likely irrigation need is an important aspect of efficient farm management and feed budgeting.
Last month’s issue of The Climate Update illustrated the close relationship between measured and modelled soil moisture content at Winchmore. A soil moisture model, once calibrated from measured water content, can easily be run on a computer spreadsheet to track ongoing moisture status in the pasture root zone on a daily basis.