Crops
Cotton irrigation: surveys, land forming and design
Most irrigated cotton is watered down furrows, so the grade of the field matters as much as the pumps and pipes.
Overview
Cotton water requirements, in plain words.
Irrigated cotton typically needs about 6 to 7 megalitres (ML) of irrigation water per hectare a season. The exact figure depends on climate, soil, variety, management and how much rain falls in the season. Most irrigated cotton in Australia is watered by gravity down furrows, so the grade of each field decides how evenly that water is applied.
Field grade
Sets how evenly water runs down the furrow and drains off the end.
Tail water
Runoff is caught and reused, so drains and sumps are part of the design.
Storages
Real storage capacity decides how much water you actually have.
What we do
How we help.
RTK and drone survey of the fields
Land forming starts with an accurate surface. We run feature and contour surveys to RTK 2 cm, and drone photogrammetry over large areas.
- Feature and contour surveys to RTK 2 cm
- Aerial photogrammetry and 3D surface models
- Existing channels, drains and structures
- Bathymetric surveys of storages
Land forming design and machine files
We design the field grades, estimate the cut and fill, and produce machine files for the contractor's control system.
- Field levelling and grade design
- Cut and fill estimates for quoting
- Machine files for Trimble, T3rraCutta, Ezigrade and Topcon Civil
- Natural surface cut and fill maps
Drainage, tail water and storages
Water that runs off the end of the field has to be caught and reused. We design the drains, sumps and storages around the catchment.
- Slope and catchment analysis
- Surface drain and sump design
- Dam modelling
- Storage capacity from bathymetric survey
Earthworks managed on site
We manage the earthmoving contractors so the fields are built to the design, then survey the result.
- Tender specification and review
- Contractors managed on site
- Survey checks during the work
- As built survey at the end
Pivots, pumps and pipelines
Where you are moving to centre pivots, or need new pump stations and pipelines, we design and specify them on what suits the farm, not a brand.
- Centre pivot field design
- Pump station design and specification
- Pipeline design and hydraulics
- Efficient power use over the long term
What you get
What a cotton grower gets from us.
- RTK and drone survey of the fields
- Land forming design and cut and fill plan
- Machine files for your contractor's system
- Drain, sump and storage design
- Storage capacity from bathymetric survey
- Earthworks project managed on site
- As built survey of the finished fields
- Pivot, pump and pipeline design
Questions
Cotton, answered.
How much water does cotton need?
Irrigated cotton typically needs about 6 to 7 ML of irrigation water per hectare a season on average. It depends on climate, soil, variety, management and how much rain falls during the season. Your own figure matters more than the average, because it sets the size of the storages, pumps and supply channels.
Why does land forming matter for furrow irrigated cotton?
Because the grade of the field decides how evenly water runs down each furrow and how well it drains off the end. High spots miss out and low spots pool. Land forming sets a consistent grade from an accurate survey, and the machine files let the contractor build it.
Which machine control systems do your files work with?
Trimble, T3rraCutta, Ezigrade, Topcon Civil and others. Tell us what your contractor runs and we'll produce the files for that system.
Do you do cotton irrigation scheduling?
No, scheduling is a decision for you and your agronomist. What we provide is the survey and the design of the infrastructure that lets you apply water when and where you decide. Flow meter reports then show what each field received.
Where do you work on cotton?
We have cotton work under way in northern New South Wales and Queensland. In Queensland the team works in the Burdekin region, Emerald, and around Roma, Injune, Wandoan and Dalby. The team is based in Mildura, and travel is quoted up front.
How much does land forming design cost?
It's priced on application, because no two farms are the same. What drives the price: the area, how much survey is needed, how complex the grades and drainage are, whether you want the earthworks project managed, and travel. Send the field locations and what you are planning, and we'll come back with a scope and a price.
Related
Forming new cotton fields?
Send the property location and what you are planning. Nick, Matt or Aaron will call you back with a scope and a price.