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Elective 6: Sustainable Land and Resource Management

Water quality management

This material addresses aspects of the following syllabus outcomes:

H3.4 evaluates the management of the processes in agricultural systems
H4.1 uses appropriate experimental techniques, technologies, research methods and data presentation analysis in relation to agricultural problems and situations.

Syllabus content areas addressed in this material include:

discussing the issues related to water quality, supply and regulation
analysing a study of innovative technologies or practices that are assisting with the conservation and efficient use of water in agricultural production systems

Source: NSW Board of Studies, Agriculture Syllabus

Sustainable farming practices which both use water efficiently and prevent it from becoming contaminated are seen as a high priority in farming communities the world over. The basic concept, that without water, there is simply no life, is central to all forms of agriculture.

The following questions are based on series of web sites that present information about programs developed to maintain the quality of water. Even though the information provided in these web sites is based on work carried out in the USA, they provide valuable background information and examples of studies carried out in conserving and using water efficiently in agricultural production.

Visit the National Water Quality Management Strategy and then describe what it is.
How does its objective make it different from pure conservation strategies? Is this important to farmers?

Read the outline of the Big Spring Basin Demonstration .

Now go into Agriculture and Groundwater and read carefully before answering the following questions.
List the impurities found in the groundwater that can be contributed to agricultural activity.
What are the problems associated with such leaching of substances?
Explain how cycles of drought and flood increase the rate of leaching of soluble soil nutrients.

Go into Big Spring : Farming from the Ground Water Up:Evolution of a Water Quality Project and read carefully before answering the following questions.
How did this project come into existence? How similar is this to the way in which Landcare Projects come into existence in rural Australia?
When is a project such as this considered to be over? How can success be measured, if the process is ongoing?

Now go into the Big Spring Basin Demonstration Project and read carefully before answering the following questions.

Study: figure 2. Annual fertilizer-and manure-nitrogen inputs and annual groundwater nitrate-nitrogen concentration from the Big Spring basin.
Why have soil nitrogen levels not increased significantly between 1970 and 1995, despite a doubling ff the nitrogenous fertilisers applied?
Read the final section on Funding. Should other parties be involved in the funding of land management projects on private farming properties? Why? Who benefits?

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