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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />4.5. <br /> <br />Irrigation EJJicit'ltcy Improl'el1lt'lIl.\. <br /> <br />.Iust as thl' past fl'" dCl',uk" han' \\ irnc....cd significant imprOH'n1cnh to production <br />1H.'f :len', \\ ater :lpfllit'ation dficicncil's Ilan' 1I1()\"('d fon\ ani as \\ l'Il. For most ('rops and <br />geographical arcas. watl'l'l'fficil'ncy imprlnl'nll'lIls han' rangl'd hl'lwccn 10-250/0 pl'f :lcn' <br />of production. .-\S:l \\"e"t-\\ ide ;l\U:lgl'. onr 50'% IIf the' irrig:lll'd farm" han m:l(l{' ",OOH.' <br />l~pc of dl:mgcs to wall'f :lflplicatinn cffit.'icncy during the )990-1995 period. The <br />improH'mcllts to irrigation technology includl': :Hloption of sprinkler irrigation methods .as <br />opposed to flood irrigation. adoption of tun-energy precision application systems for <br />sprinkh.'r applit.'ations. pumping plant and distribution line impronments. :tnd an <br />adoption of drip irrigation systl'm tl'chnnlogics where ctlst-dfectiH, <br /> <br />On-farm ChllUgl'S 10 new systems and inno\:ltions Ol'cur during regular tcchnology <br />l'hangc Cyell'S. \\ hl'rC' C'\boting sysll'ms l}<In compll'lcd thl'ir lIsl'ful \\ orking and financial <br />IifC'. and ne\\ l':lpitoll ill\'estltH.'nls :tl'(' madl' for rcplacC'mC'nt systems. ,\Iso. changes to <br />applil.:ation opt'rations arC' regularly made. including the introduction of irrig~ltion <br />scheduling sptems lhal rt'sflllnd tll l'hanging temperature. \\C'ather, ~lnd soil moistlll'(' <br />conditions, Additional dfieiC'IH'y g<lins aI'(' ~lnticip..tl'd in thC' flllllrC'. as more farms <br />conlinut' to l'Ycll' through technology e1wngl's. alnng with continued improvements to water <br />:lpplil'ation l'Ilginl'l'fing. rescarch. and technolog)-. <br /> <br />Economics Benefit lIevieUJjPege-!Z <br />