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001805 the 1967 estimate was 335 wells and now they say it is in the neighborhood of 500. Fifty times greater than 20 years ago and a 50 percent increase in two years, 1967 to 1969. Figures I have for the six Northwest Kansas counties show about the same recent increase--I068 wells in 1967 and now estimated to be about 1600 wells--50 percent increase in the past two years. These counties now have from eight to IS percent of their total cropland under irrigation. The changes in management and technology which might reduce the projected underground water withdrawal will depend to a large extent upon the degree of acceptance and application by irrigators of the information and knowledge already available and from the appl ication of the new research developments and techniques. think these reduction changes will primarily fall into: No. I--increased efficient use of irrigation water pumped No. 2--reduction of evaporation losses No. 3--knowledge of plants that wi II be more efficient water users There are numerous management practices that are I ikely to increase the efficient use of the water pumped, to mention a few: One: The appl ication of water in correlation with maximum economical returns. To a marked degree in our area, irrigators apply water to the extent they are sure that water wi II not be the I imi t i ng factor. in crop production. Thus, they are generally irrigating in excess of needs. Highest yields do not necessari Iy give the greatest net returns. The times and amounts of irrigation we recommend are perhaps too general for irrigators. Looking ahead, more precise amounts for different crops will be re- examined. Ai ready changes in new varieties and new cultural practices have caused some accumulated data to become outdated. A few irrigators are adopting the practice of watering at wider spacings with the feel ing they can make more efficient use of their available water. Very few data are available on this practice to my knowledge. What is available is I imited to only a few crops. On the station, we have initiated a study this summer on corn irrigation and bedding widths. We are using three bedding widths--30", 60", 80". Corn was planted in 30" rows for the 30" and 60" beds and 40" rows on the 80" bed. The 30" beds are to receive irrigation amounts similar to our usual corn- water appl ication; that of applying water when avai lable soil 9.