This progress summary covers approximately 6 months of project activity since conclusion of the Project Agreement in May 2004. The first objective of the project and primary focus of project activity during the period has been to progress the establishment of two Serial Biological Concentration (SBC) demonstration sites in Punjab and Sindh provinces. Initial site identification was carried out by NARC in Pakistan. Site assessments made by NARC were provided as reports to the Australian team members in July. Review of these reports identified that supplementary information was required to assess site suitability, and this was provided by NARC in September. The information provided was sufficient for some preliminary modelling and assessment of site suitability to be carried out, but was not adequate for detailed system design purposes. The Australian team's conclusion was that site assessment first hand was required to be confident that the sites were appropriate and that system designs were suitable. Australian team members Mike Morris, Shahbaz Khan, Zahra Paydar and Alfred Heuperman visited Pakistan in December and were able to confirm the suitability of two sites, in Punjab and in Sindh. Additional field work undertaken during the visit provided sufficient data to design SBC systems for each site.

The second objective is to analyse the financial viability of SBC systems in Punjab, Sindh and the Murray Darling Basin. Acquisition of Pakistan SBC data will commence once SBC system designs have been concluded and construction and operation the SBC sites in Pakistan occurs. In the meantime, information on agricultural productivity with respect salinity and waterlogging in both Pakistan and the Murray Darling Basin is being compiled. The project team has collected detailed data sets on agricultural water productivity, hydrogeology and economics in the Murrumbidgee catchment. A number of background reports on crop yields and economics at different watertable depths and salinity levels were collected from the Mona Reclamation Centre in Punjab Pakistan and Drainage Research Institute in Sindh.

The third project objective is to assess the scope for adoption of SBC technology in the irrigation areas of the Murray Darling Basin. .A preliminary assessment of SBC technology for whole of the Murrumbdigee Irrigation Area (MIA) was carried out in a GIS environment to evaluate most suitable sites for managing saline drainage effluents from the MIA. This work was aimed at developing a generic suitability index that can be used for other areas in the Murray Darling Basin.

Objective 4 is to develop an analytical framework to assist in the selection of the best management system for a range of saline drainage effluents. In development of the analytical framework, work has initially focussed on the knowledge requirements for management of salt mobilisation at regional scale in southeast Australia where the primary drivers are reducing water quality impacts on rivers and improving the efficiency of water use within irrigation regions. A review of priority R&D needs for drainage water management in northern Victoria has been undertaken in consultation with regional stakeholders. Common information needs included improving the quantification of salt mobilisation processes and the effects of management options on the salinity of the Murray River, understanding the long-term implications of irrigation water trade on salt mobilisation, increasing regional capacity for review of investigations completed by consultants, sharing knowledge of the management of salt mobilisation between regions, and integrating knowledge to benefit implementation of regional Land and Water Management Plans. The Shepparton Irrigation Region Sub-Surface Drainage Working Group was used to workshop the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of drainage water management options. Factors identified by the group will need to be included in the evaluation of each option and could be broadly grouped into five categories - economic assessment/agricultural productivity, short term processes affecting drainage salt load and flow, long-term processes affecting salt balance and sustainablity, impacts on environmental features, and community factors.

The first objective of the project and a focus of project activity during the period has been to progress the establishment of two Serial Biological Concentration (SBC) demonstration sites in Punjab and Sindh provinces. Following a site assessment trip in Dec 2004, suitable sites were identified on a privately owned and operated farm at Bhalwal in Punjab and on the PARC research farm near Thatta in Sindh.
The site designs were finalised during January and February. At Bhalwal a 1 ha, tile-drained Stage A was designed to be irrigated from an existing shallow tubewell (1.5 dS/m). Stage B, 0.35 ha, was designed to be irrigated with the tile drain effluent from Stage A, and Stage C (0.1 ha) to be irrigated with the tile drain effluent from Stage B. The tile drain effluent from Stage C was designed to be pumped to a small pond. At Thatta, Stage A was designed to be 1.4 ha and irrigated by surface water of 0.8 dS/m. Stage B was designed to be 0.5 ha and irrigated using the tile drain effluent from Stage A, with the 0.2 ha Stage C irrigated by effluent from Stage B tile drains. The effluent from Stage C tiles was designed to be pumped to a small pond.
Construction of both sites occurred in the period March to June. Significant problems were experienced during construction due to flooding of excavated trenches by groundwater and slumping of trench walls.
Representatives of the Australian team visited both sites in June after construction at Bhalwal was completed and during construction at Thatta. The selection of an initial maize crop was made at both sites, and the establishment of monitoring protocols was discussed at each site. The Pakistan team did an outstanding job to complete construction of both sites in time for late sowing of an initial Kharif maize crop in August. Unfortunately, torrential rains at both sites and flooding at the Thatta site ruined the initial crop. Both sites were subsequently prepared for a winter wheat crop which was sown in November. Australian team member, Shahbaz Khan, visited both sites during December. A brochure explaining the project was prepared for use in Pakistan.

The second objective is to analyse the financial viability of SBC systems in Punjab, Sindh and the Murray Darling Basin. Acquisition of relevant Pakistan SBC data has commenced and information on agricultural productivity with respect salinity and waterlogging in both Pakistan and the Murray Darling Basin continues to be compiled. A financial model for SBC developed for the Murrumbidgee region has been assessed to be a very suitable tool that can be adapted for wider application in the Murray Darling Basin and Pakistan.

The third project objective is to assess the scope for adoption of SBC technology in the irrigation areas of the Murray Darling Basin. A Geographical Information System has been used to develop a regional SBC suitability analysis, using estimates of thresholds for SBC suitability criteria in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR) and the Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL) area of the MDB. The aim of the analysis was to provide a ranking of the relative suitability of land for SBC application within these regions, based on biophysical factors. Suitability thresholds were defined separately for each of the physical factors (groundwater depth and salinity, soil hydraulic conductivity and salinity), and then combined to derive suitability classes which reflect the relative probability of finding suitable land for SBC.

Objective 4 is to develop an analytical framework to assist in the selection of the best management system for a range of saline drainage effluents. Work on developing a framework for comparing different options for managing subsurface drainage water is progressing. The options for managing sub-surface drainage and implications for salt mobilisation have been conceptually grouped into four categories:
i) Reduce sub-surface drainage.
ii) Regional redistribution.
iii) Local storage.
iv) Export of salt to river.

Objective 1: Establish and test as a proof of concept SBC technology at two sites in Pakistan (Punjab and Sindh)
Demonstration sites were established in Sindh (near Thatta) and Punjab (near Bhalwal) during 2005. By the start of 2006 both sites had been sown to a wheat crop on all SBC stages. The crop at Thatta was subsequently lost due to flooding. Our visit in March identified operational improvements needed at each site.
- At Thatta the monitoring of water and salt flows and the operation of the sumps needed improvement. Stage B was not yet in production and a significant weed problem (canegrass) was apparent.
- At Bhalwal the tile drains were found to be blocked with silt. Limited sump volume below the drainage collector pipes was identified as a probable contributing factor because the drainage laterals could not be maintained in a freely draining state.
Programs for improving management and monitoring prior to sowing the next crop were developed with the managers at each site.
At the Bhalwal site attempts were made during April and May to clear the tile drain laterals, but without success. Monitoring data and soil EC profile data clearly indicated that there was insufficient rootzone drainage occurring in each stage and that there was insufficient drainage water from each stage to meet the crop water requirement of the next stage. In June the tile drainage system was replaced by two skimming wells, one located in the centre of Stage A supplying irrigation to Stage B, the other in the centre of Stage B supplying irrigation water to Stage C.
Both sites were sown to rice on all stages for the kharif season. Rice was chosen because
- it is a common and valuable kharif crop local know how to grow
- it is tolerant of inundation, likely to occur at the Thatta site in particular, and
- ponding could help reclaim the sites by leaching salt from the rootzone.
The Australian team visit in September highlighted further issues at both sites, which were detailed in the subsequent travel report. In summary, the site management at Bhalwal was of a high standard. The rice crop was variable but generally growing well. Soil profile ECs indicated that rootzone leaching was occurring, however the skimming wells installed in June had been installed too deeply for SBC. At Thatta the site management was poor. The site had recently been inundated and surface water control was ineffective, subsurface drainage was inadequate. There was very limited measurement of water flows on and off Stages. The crop was poor and weed infested.
A detailed work plan was developed for the Thatta site. Australian team member Shahbaz Khan subsequently visited the Thatta site in late December and noted that the work program was being implemented, with significant improvements to the water management and weed control. A wheat crop had been successfully established on Stage A, and barley on Stages B and C.

Objective 2: Analyse the financial viability of SBC in Punjab, Sindh and the Murray Darling Basin.
A financial model for SBC developed for the Murrumbidgee region was assessed in 2005 to be a very suitable tool that could be adapted for wider application in the Murray Darling Basin and Pakistan. In 2006 the tool has been adapted for wider use on the Murray Darling Basin and has been applied to an evaluation of SBC for management of saline flows in Box Creek, NSW.

Objective 3: Assess the scope for adoption of SBC technology in the irrigation areas of the Murray Darling Basin.
A Geographical Information Systems (GIS) based approach was used in regional suitability analysis, using estimates of thresholds for the SBC suitability criteria in three irrigation areas (Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA), Shepparton Irrigation Region (SIR) and the Murray Irrigation Limited (MIL) Area in the MDB. The main aim of the analysis was to provide a coarse scale ranking of the relative suitability of land for SBC application within the regions. Here we only considered the main physical factors for defining the suitability thresholds. Socio-economic factors associated with SBC application such as loss of land, proximity to roads and facilities have not been considered in this analysis. SBC suitability maps for MIA and SIR are now available. These maps are being further refined by using alternative indices combining water table, salinity and soils data.

Objective 4: Develop an analytical framework to assist in the selection of the best management system for a range of saline drainage effluents.
A salinity management Knowledge Integration Framework has been developed using a Bayesian network approach. The framework captures and integrates knowledge about salinity management and supports strategic decisions on how to manage salt at a range of scales. The framework was developed by a technical working group of acknowledged experts, that in an iterative series of workshops developed an agreed conceptual representation of the regional groundwater system in the form of a cause-and-effect diagram. The process followed was:
1. Existing knowledge was collated
2. Key outcome measures for salt management were identified
3. A conceptual representation of the system was developed
4. Knowledge gaps and areas of uncertainty in current understanding were identified
5. The impacts and identified risks of current management strategies were tested
The framework and process used to develop it have proved to be very beneficial. There is now agreement and common understanding of the whole system by senior irrigation water supply engineers, catchment managers, researchers and policy makers. Discussions are now more focussed, but at the same time consider the whole system.
In the Shepparton Irrigation Region the framework has been used to identify thirty knowledge gaps in our current understanding of groundwater management impacts on the shallow groundwater system. It has also been used to identify and prioritise potential risks from the disposal of subsurface drainage to irrigation supply channels and surface drains.
Outcomes of the work have included:
- Enhanced knowledge exchange and collaboration between the Department of Primary Industries and Goulburn-Murray Water
- Restructure of Subsurface Drainage Coordinating Group meetings to incorporate technical forums for strategic thinking
- Reprioritisation of the Research and & Investigations Strategy, with the inclusion of additional issues identified through the Knowledge Integration Framework.