1. CONVEYANCE AND REQUIREMENTS
IRRIGATION WATER
CONVEYANCE AND REQUIREMENTS

3. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER DIVERSION?

4. THE REAL WORLD VIEW

6. DITCH AND CANAL LINERS

7. PIPE FLOW
BY GRAVITY
OR PUMPS

8. CROP SEED PRODUCTION

9. Apply water to meet the crop needs
HAY PRODUCTION

10. EFFECTIVE ROOT ZONE

11. ROOT DEVELOPMENT AND SOIL LIMITATIONS

12. MODIFIED ROOT DEVELOPMENT
50%
33%
17%

13. LIMITS ROOT DEVELOPMENT
EFFECTIVE ROOT ZONE
HIGH WATER TABLE
LIMITS ROOT DEVELOPMENT

16. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!!!
WE OFTEN USE THE METHOD THAT SEEMS MOST FAMILIAR EVEN WHEN THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO DO IT.
ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL!!!

17. MANAGEMENT IS THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT
APPLICATION METHODS
MANAGEMENT IS THE ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT

18. WATER MEASUREMENT

19. TOO MUCH WATER MAY CAUSE
Inflow
Source
Detachment
Infiltrating furrow stream
Runoff and sediment loss
Transport
Deposition
Tail Ditch
NWISRL
Kimberly, ID

20. TOO MUCH WATER IN ANY SYSTEM
Poor Design, Soil & Landscape Variability,
Application Rate, etc. Can Create Problems
NWISRL
Kimberly, ID

21. MAY LEAD TO OTHER PROBLEMS
OVER IRRIGATION AND EROSION

23. Adequate soil moisture monitoring

24. SEASONAL USE AT SOIL DEPTHS

25. ALFALFA HAY - POTOMAC – MISSOULA COUNTY

26. GRASS HAY - POTOMAC – MISSOULA COUNTY

27. Sprinkler Efficiency Overview
NRCS NATIONAL IRRIGATION GUIDE
(Table 6-4)
Periodic move lateral %
Traveling sprinkler (big guns) %
Center pivot - standard %
Linear (lateral) move %
LEPA Center pivot or linear

28. GROSS Vs NET REQUIREMENTS
The Gross application is that amount applied over the whole area to get the Net amount in to the soil where it can be used by the plant.
To obtain a 1inch NET application with a 50% efficient system one must apply 2 inches.
A 75% efficient system would need to apply a 11/3 inch Gross to get the same 1 inch NET.

29. EFFECT OF LIGHT APPLICATIONS
SHALLOW APPLICATIONS
DATA BREAK
LOWER SOILS NOT IRRIGATED

30. 14.8 in.

31. 12.7 in.

32. SOMETIMES WE MAKE THINGS HARDER THEN NECESSARY

33. SUMMARY
Conveyance losses (control limits, evaporation, leakage, etc.) reduce the amount of H2O taken from a source that is available for application to the field.
Application losses come in many forms:
Weather – Wind, heat, humidity, evaporation, etc.
Soils – Intake limits, water holding capacity effects
System – Uniformity, leaks, maintenance effects
Management – Flow controls, Time limitations, & lack of Measurements of Flow rate and Soil Moisture
The remaining water getting to the root zone is what is available to the plant for growth.

34. QUESTIONS??