Water use efficiency and irrigation management of Tasmanian forage options

Improving the water-use efficiency [WUE: ratio of dry matter (DM) production to water used] of homegrown feed production is of growing importance in grazing systems. This is a result of increasing climate variability, increasing competition, and the rising cost of irrigation water. Achieving high forage yields (t DM/ha) is a key determinant to maximising WUE, as yields exhibit a strong positive relationship with WUE (R2 = 0.79). Forage yields (t DM/ha) can be increased by: (i) selecting appropriate species for the prevailing environment (e.g. right plant, right place); and (ii) removing yield limitations, for example diseases and pests, inappropriate grazing practices, poor irrigation management, and soil fertility deficiencies.