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Douglas-Daly Experiment Station

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The Douglas-Daly Experiment Station was an extensive research site of the Northern Territory Administration (NTA) of the Government of Australia and, after statehood, of the Northern Territory Government. It formed part of a string of similar research sites in northern Australia. Located at the junction of the Douglas and Daly Rivers and covering an area of approximately 100 km2, the site spanned three major soil types of the Top End of the Northern Territory — Blain, Tippera and Florina soil types.

Established1965[1]
Fieldof research
Agriculture
Location725 Jungwa Road[2], Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory, 0822, Australia
13°50′04″S 131°10′59″E[3]
Operating agency
Department of Primary Industry and Resources[2]
Northern Territory Government
Quick facts Established, Field of research ...
Douglas-Daly Research Farm
Established1965[1]
Field of research
Agriculture
Location725 Jungwa Road[2], Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory, 0822, Australia
13°50′04″S 131°10′59″E[3]
Operating agency
Department of Primary Industry and Resources[2]
Northern Territory Government
Map
Douglas-Daly Experiment Station is located in Northern Territory
Douglas-Daly Experiment Station
Location within Northern Territory
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The climate is hot-humid tropical with a distinct six-month dry season and an annual rainfall of around 1 m. It was used mainly for pasture, forage, and grazing experiments, with its main research activity beginning in the 1960s and continuing until the break-up of the site into development farms in the 1980s.

Research from the site is mainly documented in scientific journal papers and annals of the NTA. Among the researchers on the site have been Bruce Franks, John Sturtz, John Austin and Lindsay Falvey, who were supported by the manager Heinz Mollman. The site was also used by CSIRO, especially for the rock-phosphate research of Ray Swaby.

Douglas Daly School

The research farm has hosted a primary school for the children of farm employees and local residents since 1982. In 2018, the school, which is operated by the Northern Territory Government, had a total enrolment of 12 students and a teaching staff of three.[1]:12[4]

Weather station

The Douglas-Daly Research Farm has been the site of an official weather station since January 1968.[1]:12

More information Climate data for Douglas River Research Farm (sic), Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory, Month ...
Climate data for Douglas River Research Farm (sic), Douglas-Daly, Northern Territory
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33.7
(92.7)
33.5
(92.3)
34.0
(93.2)
34.7
(94.5)
33.3
(91.9)
31.4
(88.5)
31.9
(89.4)
33.6
(92.5)
36.8
(98.2)
37.8
(100.0)
36.9
(98.4)
35.0
(95.0)
34.4
(93.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.9
(75.0)
23.7
(74.7)
23.2
(73.8)
20.5
(68.9)
16.7
(62.1)
13.7
(56.7)
12.9
(55.2)
14.0
(57.2)
18.6
(65.5)
22.3
(72.1)
23.6
(74.5)
23.8
(74.8)
19.7
(67.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 290.0
(11.42)
283.2
(11.15)
226.0
(8.90)
49.9
(1.96)
9.9
(0.39)
2.0
(0.08)
2.4
(0.09)
1.2
(0.05)
5.2
(0.20)
35.8
(1.41)
124.8
(4.91)
214.5
(8.44)
1,245.8
(49.05)
Average rainy days 14.4 13.3 11.2 3.2 0.9 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.7 3.1 7.9 11.0 66.2
Source: [5]
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References

Further reading

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