Research laboratory at Deniliquin (photo: M. Stevens)

The Deniliquin Agricultural Research and Advisory Station is located at 449 Charlotte Street, Deniliquin, next door to Murray Irrigation Limited. The site includes modern office accommodation with a large conference room, a small laboratory, glasshouse, preparation areas and storage sheds.

Field Station

The Murray Valley Field Station is accessed from Todds Road, 10 km north-east of Deniliquin.

The field station is approximately 100 ha in area, has been developed to comply with Berriquin Land and Water Management Plan best practices.

• Location: 35°33’S  144°57’E and elevation: 94.9m
  
• Water is supplied from September to April through Murray Irrigation Limited’s distribution system and is managed on farm via an interconnected network of channels and drains. The 12.5 megalitre turkey-nest supply dam and the 2.7 ML recirculation dam also ensure that all irrigation drainage water from the property is retained on farm. A spearpoint system has been installed to access shallow groundwater for research purposes.
  

Aerial view of Murray Valley Field Station (photo : K. Gott)

• Three soil groups are represented. Red-brown earths comprise 70% of the property; transitional red-brown earths 20% and non self-mulching clays 10%. Landforming with laser levelling equipment was used to redevelop the paddock layout and to provide a combination of slopes from 1 in 500 to 1 in 25 000. The land is relatively flat and surface soil erosion is not a common problem.
• Areas of natural grey box woodland have been retained and fenced while native plantations have been established in other areas to provide almost 3 ha of tree belts and vegetation corridors.

Negotiations are continuing with the Deniliquin community regarding the best future use of the Murray Valley Field Station. It is anticipated that future NSW DPI trial work will be divided between the field station and commercial properties operated by collaborating farmers.