The work undertaken at CQUniversity Australia over the past decade suggests that drip and subsurface drip irrigation succumb to temporal hypoxia in the wetting fronts upon irrigation, and this irrigation paradox can be overcome by using aerated water for irrigation. A series of research studies both strategic and applied under the leadership of Prof Midmore and his team, suggests that crop response to aerated irrigation water (oxygation) is very promising in a number of crops both under controlled environment trials and in field tests. The longer erm studies conducted in cotton, pineapple, lucerne, and grapes shows positive benefits of oxygation on yield and water use efficiencies. Response to oxygation is mediated through enhanced root growth and other root processes.