Crops
Plantation irrigation and design for forestry
Plantations cover large areas, so an accurate survey, a sound layout and a network sized for growing trees matter from the first row.
Overview
Plantation water requirements, in plain words.
There is no single figure for plantation water use. It depends on the species, the age of the trees, planting density, climate and soil, and on whether irrigation is only to get the trees established or runs through the rotation. Demand grows as the canopy closes, so the network is designed for the flows the plantation will need later, not just in the first year.
Species and age
Demand rises as the trees grow and the canopy closes.
Soil and climate
Soil sets how much water the root zone holds, and climate sets how often it needs refilling.
Scale
On a large site, survey accuracy and the network layout carry most of the risk.
What we do
How we help.
Survey and mapping at scale
Drone photogrammetry maps large sites in detail, and RTK GPS ground survey adds feature and contour data to 2 cm.
- Aerial photogrammetry and 3D surface models
- Multispectral mapping of plant stress
- Feature and contour surveys to RTK 2 cm
- Bathymetric surveys of storages
Plantation layout
Blocks, rows, roads, headworks and drainage are planned together from one data source, so the layers of the plan line up.
- Block and row layout
- Roads and access
- Soil survey by pits, grid and EM
- Staking of rows and pipelines on site
Network and headworks for large areas
Long mainlines and big pump stations are where most of the cost and risk sit. We design, model and specify them on what suits the site, not a brand.
- Mainline and submain design
- Pump station and filtration design
- Allowance for future flows
- Efficient power use over the long term
Earthworks and drainage
On a large site, water that pools or runs where it shouldn't costs trees and access. We design the levelling and drains, and produce machine files for the earthmoving contractor.
- Slope and catchment analysis
- Surface drain and sump design
- Cut and fill estimates for quoting
- Machine files for Trimble, Topcon Civil and others
Tender, installation and as built
We write the tender so every contractor prices the same job, manage the installation on site, and record what was actually built.
- Tender specification and review
- Project management on site
- Commissioning against the design
- As built data and drawings
What you get
What a plantation developer gets from us.
- Drone and RTK survey of the site
- Plantation layout and staking
- Irrigation network and pump station design
- Earthworks and drainage design with machine files
- Tender documents and contractor review
- Project management and commissioning
- As built drawings when the job is done
Questions
Plantations, answered.
How much water does a plantation need?
It depends on the species, tree age, planting density, climate and soil, so no single figure holds across plantations. Demand is low while the trees establish and rises as the canopy closes. We work out the water budget and peak demand for your species and site before the network is sized.
Is plantation irrigation only needed to establish the trees?
Sometimes. Some plantations are irrigated only until the trees are established, and others are irrigated through the rotation. It depends on the species, the site and what the plantation is for. The design should allow for the longest period you expect to irrigate.
Can you stake out tree rows across a large site?
Yes. Our RTK GPS gear stakes rows, pipelines, pump pads and structures straight from the design. Design and survey are one team, so changes made during the job are surveyed and drawn up by the same people.
Do you work in New Zealand?
Yes. Ardal Water Solutions Ltd has an office in Christchurch, run by Bill Johns, Project Lead, New Zealand, and works across New Zealand. The Mildura team works across Australia. Travel is quoted up front.
How much does plantation design cost?
It's priced on application, because no two sites are the same. What drives the price: the area, how much survey is needed, whether the job includes pump stations and earthworks, tender and project management, and travel. Send the site location and what you are planning, and we'll come back with a scope and a price.
Related
Planning a plantation?
Send the site location, the species and the area. Nick, Matt or Aaron will call you back with a scope and a price.