this approach and criteria to do the same for drought. This provides valuable
information and targeting for other measures identified within the project.
As previously discussed, in response to the 2014 Somerset Floods, FWAG SW
has been involved in putting together a 20 Year Action Plan for water management
in Somerset. This has included many of the Natural Flood Management and Soil
Management measures that are included in the DROP Project. The Land
Management aspects of the 20 Year Plan include a range of interventions like
woodland planting, increasing soil organic matter, run-off attenuation features,
improving soil structure and slowing watercourse flow that will improve drought
resilience. This has constituted a major part of the progress achieved by the DROP
Project in 2014.
Four sub-projects undertaken by FWAG SW as a sub-partner on the DROP project
are related to improving the storage, conservation and recycling of water on farms;
improving soil organic matter and soil structure; developing modelling and technology
transfer for irrigation scheduling and water application management; and developing
an Area Level Water Management scheme. The four projects are as follows:
(1) Working with farmers to investigate ways of storing, conserving and
recycling water for on-farm use. This has involved implementing water
efficiency measures and water conservation techniques in land-based businesses. Four ‘demonstration’ farms showcase various in situ soil protection
measures, and open days have been held to encourage other farmers to
implement these measures on their own land. Measures include (i) the reinstatement of ditches and drains to slow and elevate run-off on a historic rural
estate in Somerset; (ii) use of temporary grassland to minimise soil erosion and
installation of filter fences to prevent soil from washing into neighbouring
properties; (iii) installation of a stone gabion and fencing feature to hold back
fine soil that washes from the gently sloping arable field; and (iv) soil bunds to
prevent soil washing through a hedge and a newly installed filter fence, silt
pond, drains and established winter sown oats after maize at a local farm.
(2) Investigating ways of improving soil organic matter levels and soil
structure. Different types of cover crop have been trialed on two pilot sites to
help build organic matter. Healthy soil structure and high organic matter levels
help to increase soil resilience against the effects of waterlogging and drying.
This is especially important on arable farms where the normal sources of
organic matter are in shorter supply due to the removal of biomass. Both sites
are being monitored through a combination of infiltration measuring and earth
worm counts.
(3) Developing modelling and technology transfer in the Upper Parrett
catchment on irrigation scheduling and water application management.
The Upper Parrett was chosen as a pilot area because water demands for
agriculture here are high related to potato production. This study aimed to
identify opportunities to improve the accuracy of irrigation scheduling to
deliver potential savings during summer months within the Upper Parrett
catchment when available resources are at greatest risk. In conjunction with
5 Governing for Drought and Water Scarcity …
93
information and targeting for other measures identified within the project.
As previously discussed, in response to the 2014 Somerset Floods, FWAG SW
has been involved in putting together a 20 Year Action Plan for water management
in Somerset. This has included many of the Natural Flood Management and Soil
Management measures that are included in the DROP Project. The Land
Management aspects of the 20 Year Plan include a range of interventions like
woodland planting, increasing soil organic matter, run-off attenuation features,
improving soil structure and slowing watercourse flow that will improve drought
resilience. This has constituted a major part of the progress achieved by the DROP
Project in 2014.
Four sub-projects undertaken by FWAG SW as a sub-partner on the DROP project
are related to improving the storage, conservation and recycling of water on farms;
improving soil organic matter and soil structure; developing modelling and technology
transfer for irrigation scheduling and water application management; and developing
an Area Level Water Management scheme. The four projects are as follows:
(1) Working with farmers to investigate ways of storing, conserving and
recycling water for on-farm use. This has involved implementing water
efficiency measures and water conservation techniques in land-based businesses. Four ‘demonstration’ farms showcase various in situ soil protection
measures, and open days have been held to encourage other farmers to
implement these measures on their own land. Measures include (i) the reinstatement of ditches and drains to slow and elevate run-off on a historic rural
estate in Somerset; (ii) use of temporary grassland to minimise soil erosion and
installation of filter fences to prevent soil from washing into neighbouring
properties; (iii) installation of a stone gabion and fencing feature to hold back
fine soil that washes from the gently sloping arable field; and (iv) soil bunds to
prevent soil washing through a hedge and a newly installed filter fence, silt
pond, drains and established winter sown oats after maize at a local farm.
(2) Investigating ways of improving soil organic matter levels and soil
structure. Different types of cover crop have been trialed on two pilot sites to
help build organic matter. Healthy soil structure and high organic matter levels
help to increase soil resilience against the effects of waterlogging and drying.
This is especially important on arable farms where the normal sources of
organic matter are in shorter supply due to the removal of biomass. Both sites
are being monitored through a combination of infiltration measuring and earth
worm counts.
(3) Developing modelling and technology transfer in the Upper Parrett
catchment on irrigation scheduling and water application management.
The Upper Parrett was chosen as a pilot area because water demands for
agriculture here are high related to potato production. This study aimed to
identify opportunities to improve the accuracy of irrigation scheduling to
deliver potential savings during summer months within the Upper Parrett
catchment when available resources are at greatest risk. In conjunction with
5 Governing for Drought and Water Scarcity …
93