THE SKILLS acquired by irriga-tors who attend River Care Irrigation Management courses could lead to increased productivity and profit for farmers, while reducing salt loads in the Murray system. This is the finding of a recent survey, according to Tony Shar-ley from the Loxton, South Australia Department of Primary Industries, Natural Resources & Regional Development, South Australia (DPINRRD). Severe degradation of the lower Murray River flood-plain is partly due to the disposal of irrigation drainage water- adding to the salt load. Irrigation also causes local mounding of naturally occurring highly saline groundwa-ter at various points along waterways.
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