Very high 1 239 3 Very high 2 1467 21 High 1 2065 29 High 2 1038 15 Medium 1 12 <1 Medium 2 830 12 Low 1416 20 Table .3 Distribution of land capability categories in Mix 2 Irrigated land category Area (ha) Proportion of Swan Valley (%) Very high 1 139 2 Very high 2 1457 21 High 1 1887 27 High 2 1155 16 Medium 1 230 3 Medium 2 427 6 Low 1772 25 Water resources The availability of water supplies is the single most crucial consideration for developing irrigated agriculture. Without water, there can be no irrigation. As is the case elsewhere in Western Australia, most horticulture in the Swan Valley relies on irrigation. There are grape vines currently grown for wine production in the Swan Valley without irrigation. Compared to irrigated vines, these crops tend to have lower yields, especially in years of lower rainfall. For these crops to be economically viable, they need to produce very good quality wine grapes capable of fetching a higher price per tonne. Few other horticultural crops are likely to be viable without irrigation. Groundwater assessment methodology This review combined the land capability mapping (figures 7.1 and 7.2) with information on the availability of water supplies, which is based on the methodology
Very high 1 239 3 Very high 2 1467 21 High 1 2065 29 High 2 1038 15 Medium 1 12 <1 Medium 2 830 12 Low 1416 20 Table .3 Distribution of land capability categories in Mix 2 Irrigated land category Area (ha) Proportion of Swan Valley (%) Very high 1 139 2 Very high 2 1457 21 High 1 1887 27 High 2 1155 16 Medium 1 230 3 Medium 2 427 6 Low 1772 25 Water resources The availability of water supplies is the single most crucial consideration for developing irrigated agriculture. Without water, there can be no irrigation. As is the case elsewhere in Western Australia, most horticulture in the Swan Valley relies on irrigation. There are grape vines currently grown for wine production in the Swan Valley without irrigation. Compared to irrigated vines, these crops tend to have lower yields, especially in years of lower rainfall. For these crops to be economically viable, they need to produce very good quality wine grapes capable of fetching a higher price per tonne. Few other horticultural crops are likely to be viable without irrigation. Groundwater assessment methodology This review combined the land capability mapping (figures 7.1 and 7.2) with information on the availability of water supplies, which is based on the methodology
Review%20of%20land%20capability%20asessment%20for%20the%20Swan%20Valley%20-%20RMTR%20402%20(Word%202.7MB).docx