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8 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I The system that is presently experiencing the most rapid expansion in use is the center-pivot automated sprinkler system. This system offers several advantages to the irrigation farmer - reduced labor requirements, generally higher application efficiencies, greater flexibility in application rates and timing; but has the disadvantages of a high initial capital investment and a characteristic loss of about 20 percent of the land irri- gated (the corners). All the conveyance and application systems common to the High Plains area will be discussed in later sections, with appropriate explanation of system characteristics, opportunities for improvement and other pertinent information. Irrigation management encompasses a wide variety of water application, cultural, tillage, and structural/land treatment methods and practices intended to optimize crop production from available water supplies. Manage- ment decisions obviously include the initial decisions as to which of the various irrigation methods or systems to use on a particular farm, crop or field. In this context, however, management refers more to the decisions and actions available to the farmer to operate those systems most effectively and efficiently. Some of the more promising irrigation management opportunities for the High Plains irrigation farmer include such practices as: 1) improved sCheduling of irrigation based upon determinable soil-plant-moisture-climatic relationships, 2) accurate measurement through metering or other instrumen- tation of rates and quantities of application, 3) further automation of application systems to reduce human error, 4) pumping and well system improvements, 5) deficit (stress) watering methods, pre-watering, supple- mental watering, time-of-day watering and other related water conservation practices. Although most of the water conservation and water use efficiency prac- tices discussed under the general heading of Cultural and Soil-Plant-Moisture Relationships in the following section can also be classified as irrigation management, they are treated separately here to indicate their relative significance.