Versatile agricultural land spatial data of the Roper catchment NT generated by the Roper River Water Resource Assessment

This versatile agricultural land data is a collection of raster datasets (GeoTIFF format) used to provide a synopsis of the land suitability data of the 21 crop groups and their specific irrigation management systems and seasons in the Roper catchment of the Northern Territory. Five datasets are in this collection.
The definitive versatile agricultural land dataset (Ag_Versatility_14_Crops_R.tif) was determined by identifying where the largest number of the 14 selected land management options were mapped as being suitable (i.e. suitability classes 1 to 3, refer to report cited with this metadata record). This analysis summarised the suitability of the selected land management options for each pixel, and highlights those pixels that are potentially more versatile for agricultural development because they are likely to suit a larger range of land management options and enterprises eg the score of zero represents the least versatile land, while the score of 14 represents the most versatile. The data values represent the number of land management options suitable for that pixel. The selected land management options were chosen to be relative to general potential agronomic experience and development aspirations of potential stakeholders in the catchment and were derived in consultation with the agricultural viability activity in ROWRA. These selections are presented in Table 3-26 of the published report; ' Soils and land suitability for the Roper catchment, Northern Territory’. A technical report from the CSIRO Roper River Water Resource Assessment to the Government of Australia. Similarly, the selection of a different representative set from the land management options would result in a different versatility map outcome.
In addition to the selected set of 14 land management options, versatile agricultural land is also presented using the subsets of each of the irrigation types (and rainfed cropping). In this case, the land management options were assigned to rainfed (8), furrow (17), spray (23) or trickle irrigation (10). The data values represent the number of land management options suitable for that pixel. Analytical products like these help to identify land where particular types of irrigation-related infrastructure investment may be best targeted. This data provides improved land evaluation information to identify opportunities and promote detailed investigation for a range of sustainable development options. It is important to emphasize that this is a regional-scale assessment: further data collection and detailed soil physical, chemical and nutrient analyses would be required to plan development at a scheme, enterprise or property scale. Several limitations that may have a bearing on land suitability were out of scope and not assessed as part of this activity (refer to the report), these limitations include biophysical and socio-cultural. For example these versatile agricultural land raster datasets do not include consideration of the licensing of water, flood risk, contiguous land, risk of irrigation induced secondary salinity, or land tenure and other legislative controls. Some of these may be addressed elsewhere in ROWRA eg flooding was investigated by the Earth observation remote sensing group in the surface water activity.
The Roper River Water Resource Assessment provides a comprehensive overview and integrated evaluation of the feasibility of aquaculture and agriculture development in the Roper catchment NT as well as the ecological, social and cultural (indigenous water values, rights and aspirations) impacts of development.

本多功能农业土地数据是一组栅格数据集（raster datasets），采用GeoTIFF格式，用于概述北领地（Northern Territory）罗珀流域（Roper catchment）内21个作物组及其特定灌溉管理系统与种植季节的土地适宜性数据。该集合包含5个数据集。

核心的多功能农业土地数据集（Ag_Versatility_14_Crops_R.tif）通过识别14种选定土地管理方案中被映射为适宜（即适宜性等级1至3，详见本元数据记录（metadata record）所引用的报告）的数量最多的区域确定。该分析总结了每个像素点（pixel）对选定土地管理方案的适宜性，并突出显示了农业发展潜在多功能性更高的像素点——例如，得分为0代表多功能性最低的土地，得分为14则代表最高。数据值表示该像素点适宜的土地管理方案数量。选定方案参考了流域内潜在利益相关者的一般农艺经验及发展诉求，并经与ROWRA农业可行性活动协商确定。这些选择详见已发表报告《北领地罗珀流域土壤与土地适宜性》（CSIRO罗珀河水资源评估项目提交给澳大利亚政府的技术报告）表3-26。

除14种选定土地管理方案外，多功能农业土地还通过各灌溉类型（及雨养种植）的子集呈现。在此情形下，方案被划分为雨养（8种）、沟灌（17种）、喷灌（23种）及滴灌（10种）类别。数据值表示像素点适宜的方案数量。此类分析产品有助于识别特定灌溉相关基础设施投资的最优目标区域。本数据提供了更完善的土地评估信息，以识别机遇并推动一系列可持续发展方案的详细调研。需强调的是，本评估为区域尺度评估（regional-scale assessment）：若要在方案、企业或地块尺度规划发展，需进一步收集数据并开展详细土壤物理、化学及养分分析。若干影响土地适宜性的限制因素未纳入本活动范围（详见报告），包括生物物理及社会文化因素。例如，本栅格数据集未考虑用水许可、洪水风险、连片土地、灌溉诱发次生盐渍化风险、土地权属及其他立法管制。其中部分因素或在ROWRA其他环节解决，如洪水问题由地表水活动中的地球观测遥感小组（Earth observation remote sensing group）调查。

罗珀河水资源评估（Roper River Water Resource Assessment）全面概述并综合评估了北领地罗珀流域水产养殖与农业发展的可行性，以及发展带来的生态、社会及文化影响（含原住民水价值观、权利及诉求）。