Empirical and process based growth modelling of Chinchilla white gum with variable water applications

Specifications

• Client: Confidential Client
• Scope:

  Tree growth modelling and response to variable irrigation applications using a combination of empirical and process (3PG) based modelling to extend known responses to variation in water availability.

• Challenge:

  To assess the scale, infrastructure requirements, irrigation management and capital return from an irrigated forestry venture, QGC sought to understand the independent growth response of Chinchilla white gum to variable irrigation applications. Prior data on growth responses to irrigation were unviable.

   
• Solution:

  Verterra collated available growth data for a variety of sources to develop a series of empirical growth curves under dryland conditions. These curves were used to calibrate a process based growth model in order to extrapolate potential growth under irrigated conditions, including variable irrigation regimes. 

• Benefit to Client:

  The outputs of this project assisted the client to understand the scale, infrastructure requirements, irrigation management and capital return from an irrigated forestry venture under varying management scenarios and irrigation rates.

• Market Sector: Oil and Gas
• Capabilities:
  • Irrigated forest & fodder crops for beneficial use of waste water
  • General land, water and vegetation technical services
  • Research Services
• Location: Queensland
• Year: 2012