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<br />II. RESEARCH <br /> <br />R" ~ nrro"s p'ov'd,d a be:ter understandin~ 0: irr:~.atior. s~_'s:e~s and <br />ea,c;, >... ,. . . =' <br />oethods of irrigation ~a:e, ~anagen~nt. Val~able infor~a:ion is no~ avail~::e <br />o~ the follo~ing: <br /> <br />---Routine .ooitoring of soil salinity is possible using ne.ly developed soi~ <br />salinity ~onitoring probes. <br /> <br />---Prevention of clogging is best ~hen trickle systeos are designed for peak <br />sedi~ent loads. Flushing of laterals should be a regular part of systeo <br />eaintenance. Filtration and some cheoical treat~ent is necessary. Sand <br />separators can greatly reduce filtration loads. <br /> <br />---~ature citrus trees can be converted froc surface to a pressurized <br />irrigation system ~ithout affecting fruit yield or quality. <br /> <br />---Level basin irrigation systems ~hich are properly managed ~inimizes deep <br />percolation, prevents erosion and results in higher water application <br />efficiencies. <br /> <br />---Air pressure closures for pipe outlets were developed for auto~ated <br />irrigation syste~s. Control centers, both dependent and independent of :~Q <br />VAC po~er, were used. Other itees included: (1) bottled air or nitrogen gas <br />to ?O~ef gates, (2) encasecent of electrical wire and air tubing in concrete <br />or PVC for protection from gopher da~age. and air cylinder placecent/cylinder <br />rod protectio:l. <br /> <br />---Large investment subsidies are required for a sprinkler system (side roll <br />or cen:er pivot) to be economically prefera~le to surface irrigation ~he~e <br />slopes are near~y flat and fairly unifor~. <br /> <br />---A very lov energy syste. for controlling autoaated headgates has been <br />ceveloped using either the downstream or upstrea~ ~ater surface tor control. <br />~~ere ~a~n district canals are used for in-system ~ater storage, laterals ca~ <br />be 811tO!::ated with "on-de::land" delivery to each fare turnout. <br /> <br />Other research activities that were valuable contributions to the Wellton- <br />~oha~k On-faro Irrigation Improveoent Progta::l were: <br /> <br />(1) Broadcrested Fluce - by Dr. John Replogle, ARS <br /> <br />(2) Large turnout structure - original design and field trial with far~ers <br />anc by Cliff Parsons, Agricultural Engineer, SCS. Proble~s were <br />studied by ARS who icproved the design to handle water flow for 20 <br />cubic feet per second or more and no~ they are used extensively. <br /> <br />(3) Micro-spray Eoitter Head on citrus trees - by Dr. Robert Roth, <br />University of Arizona. <br /> <br />(~) Jack Cates and Port Cates <br /> <br />(5) Co=?~:er Co~trolled Irriga:ion Scheduli~g ~ith Auto:ated Co~trol Gates <br /> <br />- 12 - <br />