Irrigation in Saskatchewan Project Presentation from 2001 Used as notes 2002

Irrigation Design Three basic designs –Sprinkler applied –Surface applied –Trickle applied Choice of design dependent on irrigator’s situation.

Sprinkler Applied Irrigation Water is sprayed through the air in a mist and falls to the ground like rainfall. Three configurations: –Multi-sprinkler –Single-sprinkler –Boom-sprinkler

Multi-sprinkler Systems one pumping unit supplies one mainline pipe unit and supplies various lateral pipe units which have sprinkler heads. Various Techniques: –Permanent –Hand moved and Tractor Moved –Self propelled as: center pivot and lateral moved

Single-sprinkler Systems gun- type sprinkler that operates under high enough pressure to irrigate 1-6 acres in circumference. Application Techniques: –Hand moved –Tractor moved –Self Propelled

Boom Sprinkler Systems long lateral pipe with two nozzles evenly spaced to provide better water distribution single-sprinkler. backpressure spins the lateral pipe. will irrigate an area of 1.0 to 2.5 acres per setting. same techniques of application as the single-sprinkler.

Surface Applied Irrigation Intensively level or alter land. Water is applied on the ground at ground level and flows by gravity over the surface of the field. Level surface applied irrigation has standing water (< 0.1% grade). Graded surface applied irrigation has flowing water (0.1%-1.0% grade).

Surface Irrigation Techniques Three basic techniques of application for both level and graded: –Furrow –Level Border –Contour Levee

Trickle applied Irrigation A system of pumping filtered water directly onto or below the soil surface. Water is carried through an extensive pipe network to each plant. Water is expelled out emitters. Emitter differences are the application differences in technique. Emitters are prone to clogging.

Leaching Caused by Irrigation Irrigation water is over applied –soil erosion –leaching of nutrients –leaching of pesticides

Leaching Caused by Irrigation Leaching of Nutrients –nitrogen is very water soluble –over application of water can lead to N deposited in lower soil levels –can also lead to contamination of groundwater of N

Leaching Caused by Irrigation Leaching of Pesticides –Pesticides Must be broken down by soil microorganisms taken up by plants adsorbed to the soil particles

Leaching Caused by Irrigation Management –identify soil texture –irrigation schedule track of water losses from evapotranspiration irrigate when percent of available soil water is depleted

Soil Water Quality Introduction Introduction

Water Sources Surface Water Surface Water Groundwater Groundwater Effluent Effluent –Municipal –Agricultural –Industrial

Water Quality Guidelines

Salinity and SAR

Specific Ion Tolerances Boron Boron Chloride Chloride Sodium Sodium

Other Considerations Metals Metals Nutrients Nutrients Biological Organisms Biological Organisms

Irrigation and Soil Quality Vast Integrated complex

Major factors controlling irrigation’s affect on soil quality Structure and texture Biotic factor Irrigation constitution

Structure and Texture Foundation of irrigation’s affect on soil Runoff/ erosion/ nutrient loss/ Soil removal Infiltration/ Structure

Biotic Factor Most important and most affected by water Microbes are the soil Mafia Saline irrigate water water logging compaction

Nutrients Leaching Transformation

Disease Suppressed incidence Encouraged incidence No affect

Impurities in irrigate water Many sorts Salts Effluent