Water use efficiency is a critical issue for yield and profit in the vegetable industry.

Apart from the water savings possible from the introduction of methods like sub-surface drip irrigation and computer-controlled overhead sprinklers, precise water management also helps to achieve high product quality.

The take-up of more efficient high-tech irrigation systems in all Australian vegetable production regions remains ongoing, with some growers yet to be convinced that the benefits outweigh the set-up costs.

A Hort Innovation-funded project, completed in 2006, delivered a series of reports detailing water use in the major vegetable production regions and associated river catchments.

Click here to read the report.