2.3.1 - How much water does perennial pasture need?

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The amount of water that pasture needs to produce optimum yields is largely determined by climatic demand. This demand varies both between locations and over time.

The total perennial pasture water requirement (rainfall and irrigation) over the 2001/02 to 2005/06 irrigation seasons for different locations in northern Victoria are shown in Table 2.1. Obviously potential pasture water use is higher in the hotter Swan Hill area than elsewhere in the region.

Table 2.1. Perennial pasture water requirement (including rainfall and irrigation) for different years and different locations in northern Victoria (Ml/ha)

Site	Average	01/02	02/03	03/04	04/05	05/06	10/11	11/12
Tatura	11.3	10.9	12.4	11.0	10.5	11.0	11.1	12.2
Cobram	12.0	11.5	13.1	11.6	11.1	11.5	12.4*	13.1*
Echuca	11.8	11.5	13.1	11.6	11.1	11.5
Swan Hill	12.7	12.0	13.7	12.1	11.6	12.1	13.0	14.4