Download Irrigation Planning for a Drought

DROUGHT IRRIGATION
PLANNING
DURING A DRY YEAR;
• Use water on the best land
• Delay hayland rotations
• Short season crops or less consumptive
crops can be substituted
• New tools, monitor available soil moisture
• Do needed maintenance
– replace nozzles, fix gated pipe gates
– clean ditches, replace leaky gaskets
– ETC……….
BUT, in a drought…..
• Hayland rotations
• Maintenance
• Crops substitutions
• Knowledge of soils,
available moisture, &
root development
• Older stands become
less productive
• May be put off due to
costs
• Returns may less than
other crops
• Always helpful!
Apply water when the crop needs it most
Soil and Rooting Conditions
EFFECTIVE ROOT ZONE
Wind Effects:
Pattern graphic
WIND
RESULTS IN A 25 MPH WIND
WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH
3
2
1
SALT BUILD-UP