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<br />in is uti! izing the residues from such irrigated crops as wheat, <br />grain sorghum, and corn as accumulated surface mulch residues in no- <br />til! management systems. Surface mulches not only reduce evaporation <br />losses but increase water intake from rainfall and thus reduce <br />surface runoff and erosion. It is also very possible that before <br />the year 2000, evaporation will be controlled on irrigated land by <br />extensive use of materials such as plastic covers, sprayed asphalt, <br />or chemicals. ^ <br /> <br />Perhaps the most significant development underway to reduce irrigation <br />water losses is the continuing trend to replace open ditches with <br />underground pipe. Closed conduit water distribution systems are <br />having a major impact on reducing gross irrigation water requirements, <br /> <br />Water availability, rather than land, will likely be the limiting <br />factor in growth of irrigation in Kansas, The practical effect of <br />reducing gross irrigation water requirements and increasing water- <br />use efficiency wil I I ikely be to use the available water supply to <br />irrigate additional acreage or an attempt to irrigate the same <br />acreage with a decl ining ground-water supply. That is the trend <br />in the Texas High Plains." <br /> <br />20, <br />