Minimisation or remediation: A cost benefit comparison of two approaches for managing irrigation-induced deep percolation

Abstract

We compare the net present costs of two approaches for managing irrigation-induced deep percolation under border-check irrigated pasture: (1) conversion from border-check irrigation to sprinkler irrigation to minimise deep percolation and (2) installation of a subsurface drainage system to extract excess deep percolation under the existing border-check system. Results for a dairy farm in northern Victoria, Australia, show that conversion to sprinkler irrigation is the more cost-effective approach. The net present cost of the second approach varies across an irrigation landscape, depending on the most suitable subsurface drainage and disposal system that can be used for a particular location...