Rainfall

Rainfall received

Units

mm

Example Target

Benchmark against best practice

Example approach

Estimate using informal sampling or visual assessment

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

Internal records

Notes

The relevant target and time period for rainfall received will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, e.g. sheep production in south-western Australia is generally thought to require 250mm of annual rainfall plus 25mm per 1.3 DSE/ha (French, 1987). Some production systems may depend mainly on long-term average annual rainfall (e.g. forestry) whereas a fruit orchard might require a certain minimum amount of water during the fruiting season in order to achieve target fruit production, and a different minimum amount of water during the rest of the year to maintain tree condition. Similarly, a crop or pasture might depend on rainfall not exceeding certain levels which can lead to waterlogging, pugging or compaction, or high-intensity events which can lead to soil erosion. Reliability of rainfall may be important over various different timescales, and can be measured in different ways – e.g. the Australian Bureau of Meteorology uses an index of rainfall variability which is defined as the 90th rainfall percentile minus the 10th percentile, divided by the 50th percentile (see Rainfall variability maps). Different metrics could be used to measure each of these dependencies, while all broadly being based on similar methods and data.

Units

mm

Example Target

Benchmark against best practice

Example approach

Estimate using national/state/territory map data plus informal sampling or visual assessment

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references
Notes

The relevant target and time period for rainfall received will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, e.g. sheep production in south-western Australia is generally thought to require 250mm of annual rainfall plus 25mm per 1.3 DSE/ha (French, 1987). Some production systems may depend mainly on long-term average annual rainfall (e.g. forestry) whereas a fruit orchard might require a certain minimum amount of water during the fruiting season in order to achieve target fruit production, and a different minimum amount of water during the rest of the year to maintain tree condition. Similarly, a crop or pasture might depend on rainfall not exceeding certain levels which can lead to waterlogging, pugging or compaction, or high-intensity events which can lead to soil erosion. Reliability of rainfall may be important over various different timescales, and can be measured in different ways – e.g. the Australian Bureau of Meteorology uses an index of rainfall variability which is defined as the 90th rainfall percentile minus the 10th percentile, divided by the 50th percentile (see Rainfall variability maps). Different metrics could be used to measure each of these dependencies, while all broadly being based on similar methods and data.

Units

mm

Example Target

Use site-specific modelling of water requirements at target productivity level

Example approach

Measure using site-specific remote and/or in-field sensing inputs and/or lab testing

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

TBD – please submit your suggestion at the feedback tab in the bottom right hand corner.

Notes

The relevant target and time period for rainfall received will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, e.g. sheep production in south-western Australia is generally thought to require 250mm of annual rainfall plus 25mm per 1.3 DSE/ha (French, 1987). Some production systems may depend mainly on long-term average annual rainfall (e.g. forestry) whereas a fruit orchard might require a certain minimum amount of water during the fruiting season in order to achieve target fruit production, and a different minimum amount of water during the rest of the year to maintain tree condition. Similarly, a crop or pasture might depend on rainfall not exceeding certain levels which can lead to waterlogging, pugging or compaction, or high-intensity events which can lead to soil erosion. Reliability of rainfall may be important over various different timescales, and can be measured in different ways – e.g. the Australian Bureau of Meteorology uses an index of rainfall variability which is defined as the 90th rainfall percentile minus the 10th percentile, divided by the 50th percentile (see Rainfall variability maps). Different metrics could be used to measure each of these dependencies, while all broadly being based on similar methods and data.

Units

%

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Estimate using informal sampling or visual assessment

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

TBD – please submit your suggestion at the feedback tab in the bottom right hand corner.

Notes

The relevant target and time period for root zone soil moisture will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate.

Units

%

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Estimate using national/state/territory map data plus informal sampling or visual assessment

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references
Notes

The relevant target and time period for root zone soil moisture will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate.

Units

%

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Measure using site-specific remote and/or in-field sensing inputs and/or lab testing

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

TBD – please submit your suggestion at the feedback tab in the bottom right hand corner.

Notes

The relevant target and time period for root zone soil moisture will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate.

Water entitlement

Units

ML

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Documentary evidence

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

Internal records; water authority records

Notes

The relevant target for water entitlements will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, but should reflect the entitlement required to ensure that the chance of failing to meet target production due to being allocated insufficient water is acceptably low, over a relevant time period. This will include defining the level of security required and type of tenure, as well as the required volume. Luke (1987) provides lookup tables for average daily water consumption requirements per DSE in different parts of Australia. However, these figures do not include losses.

Units

ML

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Documentary evidence

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

Internal records; water authority records

Notes

The relevant target for water entitlements will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, but should reflect the entitlement required to ensure that the chance of failing to meet target production due to being allocated insufficient water is acceptably low, over a relevant time period. This will include defining the level of security required and type of tenure, as well as the required volume. Luke (1987) provides lookup tables for average daily water consumption requirements per DSE in different parts of Australia. However, these figures do not include losses.

Units

ML

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Documentary evidence

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

Internal records; water authority records

Notes

The relevant target for water entitlements will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, but should reflect the entitlement required to ensure that the chance of failing to meet target production due to being allocated insufficient water is acceptably low, over a relevant time period. This will include defining the level of security required and type of tenure, as well as the required volume. Luke (1987) provides lookup tables for average daily water consumption requirements per DSE in different parts of Australia. However, these figures do not include losses.

Units

ML

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Documentary evidence

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

Internal records; water authority records

Notes

The relevant target for water allocations will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, but should reflect the allocation required to meet target production in the relevant time period.

Units

ML

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Documentary evidence

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

Internal records; water authority records

Notes

The relevant target for water allocations will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, but should reflect the allocation required to meet target production in the relevant time period.

Units

ML

Example Target

Site-specific

Example approach

Documentary evidence

Example methods/guidance/data sources/references

Internal records; water authority records

Notes

The relevant target for water allocations will depend on the production system, target productivity level and climate, but should reflect the allocation required to meet target production in the relevant time period.

Last updated: 25th July 2023