Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Planning New Farm Dams : Excavated Earth Tanks, J E. Watson, J. C. Grasby

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A GOOD farm dam is a valuable asset, and well worth its cost, but there are many aspects to consider when a new dam is required. Careful planning with adequate testing and checking will help to get the best value for money and reduce the chance of costly failures.

This article discusses these aspects in relation to the excavated earth tank type of dam.

Soil Conservation : Contour Banks Must Be Maintained, D J. Carder, G. W. Spencer

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The wet winter of 1963 showed up faults in many contour bank systems and emphasised that banks won't last forever without maintenance.

This article tells where to look for weaknesses and how to treat them.

Soil Conservation : Build Contour Banks With A Disc Plough, G W. Spencer, D. J. Carder

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Heavy earthmoving machinery is not necessary for contouring; most farmers are already equipped to do the job themselves.

This article by soil conservation advisers G. W. Spencer and D. J. Carder tells how to build contour banks with a disc plough.

Dissolved-Mineral Inflow To Great Salt Lake And Chemical Characteristics Of The Salt Lake Brine: Part Ii- Technical Report, D. C. Hahl, R. H. Langford

Elusive Documents

No abstract provided.

Calibration Of Irrigation Headgates By Model Analysis, Gaylord V. Skogerboe, Vaughn E. Hansen

Reports

Introduction

The purpose of this research project was to calibrate the slide gates used by the D.M.A.D. Company (Delta, Melville, Abraham and Deseret Irrigation Companies). These gates, which number more than 600, are located throughout the distribution system. Each gate is placed in a concrete box 4 feet wide, 3-1/2 feet deep and 4 feet long. The structure is used as a means of diverting the water and is also used as a measuring device.

A similar structure, but with a different type of slide gate, was calibrated in 1914. At the time rating tables were prepared which listed the …

Modern Methods Boost Apple Production In A South-West Orchard, N H. Shorter

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A WELL-KNOWN South-West apple orchard with an impressive cropping record is owned by W. F. & E. M. Dilley and Sons, of Upper Capel, near Donnybrook.

Trees in this orchard have been producing consistently heavy crops for many years and, furthermore, yields have increased steadily over a 10-year period.

Soil Erosion By Water In W.A. Cropland : A Serious And Widespread Problem, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Much wheatbelt agriculture is based on thin topsoils which are inherently infertile by world standards. Erosion even to the depth of cultivation will cause the loss of:—

• most of the original topsoil

• the phosphate build up from years of "super" applications

• any accumulation of organic matter and humus.

Aerial Application Of Evaporation-Reducing Chemicals, Development And Evaluation Of Equipment And Techniques, C. Earl Israelsen, Vaughn E. Hansen

Reports

Aerial applications of both liquid and powder evaporation retardants have been made in parallel strips on large lakes for purposes of comparison. Films formed from powder spread more rapidly than did those from liquid, but usually both films ultimately spread to approximately equal widths and had the same degree of compression as determined with indicator oils. Evaporation retarding materials with large numbers of particles having diameters smaller than 75 microns are greatly affected by the wind. As the chemical is dispensed from the airplane. the fine particles drift with the wind and in some instances are carried onto the land …

Swing Fence Flood Crossing For Creeks In The Kimberleys, A L. Payne

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

FENCING is the basis of the regeneration programme on the eroded Ord River catchment area, and the fences constructed must cross numerous creeks.

But heavy downpours of short duration characterise the wet season experienced in this area.

Because the rain falls on to bare, compacted ground, run-off is intense and gullies and creeks rise rapidly, causing serious damage to conventional fences and flood gates across watercourses.

Land Preparation For Border Irrigation, B Swan

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LARGE amounts of water may be lost through excess run-off and deep percolation.

Proper preparation of irrigation land can help to minimise these losses.

This preparation is done by grading or levelling so that the original ground surface is shaped to allow for a more uniform distribution of water.

The Quality Of Groundwaters In The Central Wheatbelt Of W.A, Eric Bettenay, F. J. Hingston

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN south-western Australia permanent rivers are virtually absent and the larger drainage systems such as the Swan-Avon, Murray and Blackwood, which have their headwaters in inland low rainfall areas, are generally saline.

A Practical Guide To Building Contour Banks With A Road Grader, J E. Watson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THOUSANDS of miles of contour banks have been built in Western Australia, and most of this earthmoving has been done by tractor and disc plough* or by road grader.

This article describes the technique recommended for bank construction with the road grader.

Farm Dams In The Wheatbelt, J E. Watson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

MANY new farm dams are sunk each year in the wheatbelt and much money is spent on them.

With continued development of new land, and increasing stock carrying capacity of older land under legume pastures, the need for more water supplies will continue for a long time.

Hints On Irrigating Citrus With Saline Water, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

IN the past few years a number of citrus orchards near Perth have shown signs of damage caused by excess "salt" (chloride) uptake. All have been irrigated either from the Canning River or from private bores or dams.

Senior Soil Research Officer S. T. Smith describes glasshouse experiments which have given some useful guides to minimising "salt" damage in citrus trees irrigated with low-quality water.

Water For Agriculture. 5. Salt Poisoning In Livestock, J Craig

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

LIVESTOCK need a plentiful supply of good, fresh drinking water for normal health and high production.

Over large areas of Western Australia the water from bores, springs and wells contains varying but appreciable amounts of salt and special care may be needed to ensure that the stock water supply is satisfactory.

Water For Agriculture. 6. Control Of Algae In Water Supplies, R C. Gorman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ALGAE are primitive forms of plant life that are common and normal in surface waters. They are fonnd in every water supply exposed to sunlight.

Their presence is not normally detectable until there are enough of them to make their presence obvious.

Colorado River Storage Project, Glen Canyon Unit, Lake Powell, Area And Capacity Tables, Bureau Of Reclamation; United States

Elusive Documents

No abstract provided.

Dissolved-Mineral Inflow To Great Salt Lake And Chemical Characteristics Of The Salt Lake Brine: Part 1- Selected Hydrologic Data, D. C. Hahl, C. G. Mitchell

Elusive Documents

No abstract provided.

A Progress Report On Commercial Cotton Growing On The Ord River Project, William John Toms

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The recommendations given in this article have been built up from the experience of the author in growing 200 acres of cotton in the Ord River area during the 1962-63 season for the Department of Agriculture, from findings made by Kimberley Research Station, and from discussions with the present farmers in the area.

When a new form of agriculture is introduced into a new area techniques and ideas change rapidly as farmers become acquainted with their new environment and the new crops. The recommendations will therefore require constant revision.

Developing A State Water Plan Utah's Water Resources--Problems And Needs--A Challenge, Utah Water Research Laboratory

Reports

Of all the natural resources with which Utah has been endowed none is more vital to the social and economic well-being of the people than it water resource. We cannot manufacture water. We have found no acceptable substitute. Not one more drop of water is available for our use today than was available to the pioneers. Yet water uses and water demands have multiplied over the years. Since we can do little to change nature's water allotment to Utah we must learn how to utilize our existing supplies more judiciously. This means devoting increasingly more attention to problems of water …

Water For Agriculture. 1. Water For Agricultural Purposes In Western Australia, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

THE total soluble salts content of a water is the most important characteristic in determining the suitability of Western Australian waters for stock, irrigation or general use.

Other quality characteristics are of secondary importance.

Water For Agriculture. 2. Plants For Salty Water, C V. Malcolm

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

ALL natural water supplies contain dissolved salts. In wet climates these salts are usually not present in sufficient quantity to cause plant damage.

However, in Western Australia many natural water supplies contain harmful amounts of dissolved salts.

Farm Water Storage : Circular Brick Reservoirs, R P. Harington

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A circular brick tank is a cheap and efficient water storage which can be easily built on any farm. The method described below by Kimberley Research Station manager R. P. Harington was used to build a swimming pool—storage on the station.

Soft Water For Dairy Cleaning, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

CLEAN utensils are essential for the production of high quality dairy products.

Cleanliness of dairy equipment depends a lot on how efficiently the detergent can do its job.

Flooding And Salt Problems In The Wheatbelt, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

VALUABLE land has become salty in parts of the West Australian agricultural areas because most of the surrounding land has been cleared and developed for agriculture.

This salting of a small proportion of the land is part of the price paid for the development of agriculture in this State.

Drainage is not the answer to the wheatbelt flooding and salt land problems.

A more practical approach is to limit runoff from sloping land, and to make good use of salt-affected land by growing salt tolerant perennial pastures on it, says the Soils Division of the Department of Agriculture.

Water For Agriculture. 4. Clearing Cloudy Or Muddy Water, R C. Gorman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Water made cloudy by finely divided clay, silt or organic matter in suspension may be cleared by simple chemical treatment.

The selection of a satisfactory treatment is often a matter of practical testing.

Care Of Autumn And Winter Tomato Crops, W H. Kooyman

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

I N recent years there has been a considerable increase in plantings of autumn and winter tomatoes in the Perth metropolitan market garden area.

Water For Agriculture. 3. Watering Plants With Salty Water, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In Western Australia it is often necessary to use saline water for irrigation and gardening because of the lack of better water.

Two factors influence the results achieved. One is the selection of suitable plants, the other is the way in which the water is used.

Odor Report (1961), Walter A. Lawrance

Walter Lawrance Papers

No abstract provided.

Benthal Activity (1961), Walter A. Lawrance

Walter Lawrance Papers

No abstract provided.