The Winner of the Opal Award for Engaged Research & Innovation:

Make that Water Work: Improved Efficiencies of water use in irrigated agriculture   

Dr Surya Bhattarai- ROCKHAMPTON

Dr Bhattarai developed a modification of sub-surface drip irrigation, called oxygation, the aeration of irrigation water which reduces water use and can provide yield benefits to growers. 

CQUniversity is located in the centre of a largely agricultural region. This research leverages off CQUniversity's power of place. Ensuring that research and development underpin an efficient use of our natural resources is one of the moral requirements of a regional university. Water is one of the major limitations for agriculture and many other key Central Queensland industries.

The agricultural industry will if sustainable continue over the very long term to serve local and distant populations with its produce. Close links between CQUniversity and the agricultural and horticultural industry will be critical for the sustainability of the regional population and CQUniversity.

As part of the research project Dr Bhattarai built and strengthened relationships with agricultural and horticultural communities and industries throughout Queensland and is now expanding into other states. The community trials carried out expanded the range of potential adopters of the technology, allowed for direct feed-back and provided focal points for the extension of ideas to other potential beneficiaries. The trials have also involved CQUniversity undergraduate students, through support by industry vacation scholarships and top-up scholarship support for two PhD students. Dr Bhattarai has held grower workshops to showcase the technology and engaged with students at the Emerald Agricultural College by involving them and their facilities in trials.

Dr Bhattarai has also been engaging with the local housing industry with the idea of using sub-surface drip irrigation with oxygation, to reduce household water use. This is being evaluated at private homes and discussions are ongoing with the building construction industry, lawn and gardening businesses, and irrigation industries to develop water wise lawn irrigation systems -Smart Lawns - that help to address the declining allocation and increasing cost of water for urban water users.

Discussions are underway with John Deere Irrigation who are keen to link with Dr Bhattarai and CQUniversity with potential for CQUniversity to become their preferred supplier of irrigation research.

Dr Bhattarai's conduct was a credit to the University improving both our reputation and credibility. Several excellent referees were provided commending Dr Bhattarai on his collaborative approach and the positive way he represented CQUniversity.