Satellite Based Yield And Water Use Targets For Horticultural Crops Grown In SE Australia

Satellite-based information was combined with field data to estimate crop water requirement and yield potential in 74 fields of commercial fruit and nut crops grown in the Shepparton and Sunraysia Irrigation Regions of northern Victoria, Australia during the 2011/12 irrigation season. Comparisons of irrigation water supply (grower practice) with satellite-based estimates of crop water requirement showed over-irrigation was commonplace. Comparisons of actual yield with regional- and crop-specific yield targets showed large gaps in production performance. Similar conclusions were derived from a retrospective study of yield and water use data for dried vine fruit crops (n = 285) grown in Sunraysia during the period, 2002-2011.