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<br />N <br />~ <br />CJl <br />OJ <br /> <br />of over-irrigation. It is difficult to make the cooperators <br />appreciate the fact that it is all right to cut down on the volume <br />of water which is in excess of need. Over irrigation tends to be <br />the norm for two reasons--one is the fear of loss of right to the <br />volume now enjoyed and the other is that water is cheap, warranting <br />least attention. <br /> <br />It was observed that the surge irrigation performed better in row <br />crops where the furrow was in good shape. Maximum crossovers were <br />encountered in alfalfa hay fields. The furrows get blocked due to <br />trash and the marks are broken down by heavy traffic during the <br />haying process and remarking was very critical. First irrigations <br />in newly planted fields requires more monitoring and adjustment of <br />the advance cycles. Some farmers are critical about its use in the <br />first irrigation--the complaint being that surge may not wet the <br />ground thoroughly enough for the corn seed to germinate. Some <br />others have the feeling that surge is a "cure-all" for ailments in <br />irrigation. "The cooperators tend to set it in their most difficult <br />field. The fields they can handle satisfactorily by furrow "i <br />irrigation are left out from the surge program, not realizing that <br />it is a tool only to achieve better efficiency" and can not <br />overcome the constraints arising due to slope changes, gravelly <br />soil condition, lack of appropriate furrows, unusual length of run, <br />etc. The cooperators also think that surge should run by itself <br />and tend to take away the managerial time for other chores. It was <br />also observed that they did not plan their irrigation events ahead <br />of time, and, as a result, went ahead to irrigate without informing <br />the' technicians. This resulted in missed" opportunities in <br />monitoring irrigation events. Hopefully, this will not happen in <br />the future. More educational meetings, and frequent field visits <br />will be necessary to overcome the situation. <br /> <br />The infiltration data are shown in Table III for Delta and Table IV <br />for the Montrose area. The results are from the total irrigation <br />events where inflow-outflow data were collected by the furrow <br />flume. No controlled data collection was done for the purpose of <br />infiltration evaluation. The results obtained indicate that the <br />intake rate in conventional situations was higher. SCS intake <br />family and furrow intake family values were more close to surge <br />irrigation. This further validates the hypothesis that surge <br />irrigation reduces infiltration rate for the total event--helping <br />towards uniform application and reduction of deep percolation. The <br />intake rate observed at Farm #M5 in Table IV does not maintain the <br />trend as seen in Table III for deep percolation. This could be due <br />to error or may be ascribed to gravelly subsoil 10-15" below the <br />surface. <br /> <br />In conclusion, the results do indicate that there has been a <br />considerable reduction in deep percolation. All of the cooperators <br />expressed satisfaction on the results they saw in their fields in <br />terms of better irrigation coverage and crop yields. The total <br />yield of silage corn in a surge irrigated field was slightly higher <br />than the conventionally irrigated field. Hay yield also increased <br />and the quality was better. When asked, none agreed to return the <br />unit. 50, hopefully, next year we will have greater success. <br /> <br />5 <br />