Modelling deep drainage rates of irrigation strategies under cropping sequence in subhumid, subtropical australia

Water availability is a major concern for irrigated vegetable cropping in the Lockyer Valley area of Australia. Soil water balance and in particular deep drainage were modelled for a representative site of this area for a range of irrigation scenarios over 12 years of cropping sequence. A scenario that refilled the soil to the drained upper limit (DUL) resulted in 530 mm yr⁻¹ of irrigation, 673 mm yr⁻¹ of transpiration and 84 mm yr⁻¹ of deep drainage, whereas maintaining the soil to DUL+25% and DUL+50%, with soil moisture between DUL and saturation (75 and 50% free water respectively), resulted in similar transpiration but with increased irrigation (up to 717 mm yr⁻¹) and deep drainage (up to 262 mm yr⁻¹). For a given amount of available water, irrigations at fixed intervals were found to be less efficient (reduced crop transpiration) than irrigation scheduled according to a soil water deficit. This highlights the importance of moisture monitoring to optimize irrigation use efficiency. The study suggests solutions to improve irrigation efficiency by minimizing deep drainage under cropping sequences.