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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />C00165 <br /> <br />Type of crop <br /> <br /> <br />The influence of type of crop on field irrigation efficiency is <br /> <br /> <br />chiefly one of dictating the method of irrigation water application. <br /> <br /> <br />Row crops, such as corn, sugar beets, beans, sorghum, etc., are irri- <br /> <br /> <br />gated by the furrow method. Close-growing crops, such as pasture, <br /> <br />alfalfa and' small grains, are flood irrigated. Any crop may be sprinkler <br /> <br /> <br />irrigated providing the sprinkler system used conforms satisfactorily <br /> <br /> <br />to the height of the crop. <br /> <br />The type of crop also influences the frequency of irrigation and <br /> <br /> <br />the depth of water required at each application. Alfalfa, a perennial <br /> <br /> <br />crop that can establish a very deep root system, is ordinarily irrigated <br /> <br /> <br />less frequently. Potatoes must have a relatively wet soil during the <br /> <br /> <br />entire growing season if good quality tubers are to be produced, and <br /> <br /> <br />thus they require frequent, light applications, (Light applications are <br /> <br /> <br />often associated with low field irrigation efficiencies.) Corn develops <br /> <br />a deep root system capable of removing water from the lower subsoil depths. <br /> <br /> <br />It can thus, although to a lesser extent than alfalfa, utilize large, <br /> <br /> <br />infrequent irrigations. Field beans, on the other hand, have a compara- <br /> <br /> <br />tively shallow root zone and require small depths of water applied at <br /> <br /> <br />frequent intervals. Although field efficiencies may not be greatly <br /> <br /> <br />affected when proper precautions are taken, depth of application is a <br /> <br /> <br />real consideration. <br /> <br />Method of irrigation <br /> <br />Three general methods of irrigation are employed in the production <br /> <br /> <br />of crops in Colorado: furrow, flood and sprinkler, Each of these are <br /> <br /> <br />used with variations depending upon crop type, land slope and the per- <br /> <br /> <br />sonal desires of the farmer. Characteristically, sprinkler applications <br /> <br /> <br />are associated with the highest field irrigation efficiencies, and flood, <br /> <br /> <br />methods with the lowest. However, in most cases, the attention and care <br /> <br /> <br />exercised by the irrigator can cause far greater variation in irrigation <br /> <br /> <br />efficiency than will that of the method employed. <br /> <br />When the land surface slope is variable, with high spots and steep <br /> <br /> <br />slopes, a wild flooding application is frequently used, Large deliveries <br /> <br />-8- <br />