Controlled drainage management to minimise salt loads

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of controlled drainage and presents results from a study investigating the potential of controlled drainage for reducing drainage volumes and salt loads in an irrigated vineyard in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of South Eastern Australia. This study compared traditional unmanaged drainage systems with controlled drainage systems utilizing weirs to maintain water tables and minimise drainage volumes. The results from the field experiments indicated that controlled drainage has the potential to significantly reduce drainage volumes and salt loads compared to unmanaged subsurface drainage systems. However, careful management is needed to ensure that rootzone salinity levels are maintained at optimum levels for plant production.