Gary and Penny Robinson have received positive feedback from farmers at their Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) trial field days.
Cust dairy grazers Gary and Penny Robinson have advanced their Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) trial with positive feedback from farmers following field days at trial blocks in North Canterbury and Central Otago.
The system is also being installed at Linwood Park in Christchurch.
The Robinsons are participating in Next Generation Farming; a project that aims to help farmers meet tough nitrate caps while maintaining their viability.
As part of this project, farmers like the Robinsons are demonstrating innovation’s productivity and environmental benefits to their neighbours in the region and beyond.
Waimakariri Landcare Trust (WLT) and Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) have partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) for the project, with support from MPI’s Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund along with Environment Canterbury, Ballance, and DairyNZ.
SDI’s low-pressure system saves water and power and improves crop yields, by eliminating surface water evaporation and reducing the incidence of weeds and disease.
Water is applied directly to the root zone of the crop and not to the soil surface.
The couple recently held two field days at trial blocks in Cust, North Canterbury and in Maniototo, Central Otago, which were well received by farmers and industry partners.
Despite heavy rain during the Cust field day, Penny said farmers were keen to learn about subsurface irrigation.
She said they enjoyed seeing the system in the ground and being able to ask practical questions to build a stronger understanding of how it worked.
“The weather definitely wasn’t in our favour, but we still had a good turnout, and everyone was very engaged and interested. From the questions asked and discussion we had, SDI does seem to be accepted as a viable solution and option for irrigation in New Zealand.”
Gary and Penny Robinson of Robinson Subsurface Drip Irrigation at Linwood Park in Christchurch, where their underground irrigation system is being installed. Photo / Supplied
Over 50 farmers turned out for the Maniototo field day where the difference between the 18-hectare test block using subsurface irrigation and the adjacent block using traditional irrigation was evident, Gary said.
“It was a stinking hot day, and it was perfect because they have had a hot and dry summer down there so you could really see the difference with lush green grass growing on the block where we have installed the SDI.
“The farmer, Luke Jeffries, is really impressed with the system and after the field day we had quite a few local farmers approach us to learn more.”
The Robinsons are now focused on gathering data to prove the benefits of the subsurface drip irrigation system and they have some interesting projects in the pipeline.
“We’ve had lots of interest from farmers, and we are also in discussions about using the SDI system for wastewater. We feel like we are on a roll now in terms of public awareness of how the system works and the benefits it provides.”
Meanwhile, working on the installation of their first SDI system for a recreational area has been an exciting opportunity for the Robinsons.
Christchurch City Council is remediating Linwood Park following its use as a site for temporary housing after the Canterbury earthquakes.
Penny said the environmental and practical benefits made SDI an ideal option for the Council because it saved power and used less water.
The couple will now focus on gathering and analysing data from their Maniototo test block, while also exploring opportunities for the SDI system to be used for wastewater, and meeting with farmers to discuss installing the underground irrigation system on their farms.
