R&J Sellwood creates water-friendly way to farm

Breaking hundreds of years of traditional flood irrigation farming is a challenge for anyone, but R&J Sellwood of Undera in the Goulburn Valley could do just that with its high-tech permanent subsurface drip irrigation (PSDI) system.

Designed specifically for Australian farming conditions, the PSDI, which won the Agriculture category in the 2004 savewater! awards, can save between 50 and 80% on water used on both line crops and broad acre crops. The system has multiple benefits: water saving, reduced environmental impact and increased production.

With subsurface irrigation, lateral tapes are installed below the ground surface, which carry drippers that are spaced evenly to slowly release water. The system distributes wastewater evenly over the entire disposal area, eliminating puddling and run-off into streams and rivers and requiring little or no drainage infrastructure.

Subsurface irrigation originates from Israel and is about the only option in this country due to its undulating farming ground. Ray Sellwood was introduced to the concept more than 20 years ago and has since been developing the technology for local conditions on his regional Victorian lucerne, maize, tomatoes, chick pea and rye grass crops.

"With the succession of dry years in Victoria, the PSDI is a viable alternative to traditional irrigation methods and offers a compromise between farmers, urban development and the environment," says Ray.