Key Points
- Guidelines are given for optimising water scheduling for irrigated crops and maximising the water use efficiency of dryland crops.
- Priority should go to crops with higher potential yield and seed value, because the economic return from irrigating these crops is greratest.
- Irrigation may not be economic for crops with lower potential yield and/or seed value.
- Dryland crops should be managed using strategies to maximise their use of limited available water.
- This Update applies the principles of growth, development & water use discussed in Arable Update No. 16.