WSP07012

• File Number: 8443.600
• Description: Narrows Unit - Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 12/21/1981
• Author: James W. Read
• Title: Effect of Limited Irrigation on Yield of Sugar Beets
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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'Effect of Limited Irrig.on
on Yield of Sugar Beets
Pa ge 3

.

TABL E I

SUGAR BEET IRRIGATION WATER STRESS TEST-DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Date and Amount of Irrigation Water Application

Water Time in ACRE INCHES WATER APPLIED Run
Trea tment Minutes Rep T Rep 2 Rep 3 Rep 4 Average
Full Irrigation
Da te - 7 - 1 6 840 3.76 3.95 3.14 3.52 3.59
7-30 720 4.52 4.89 3.69 3.77 4.22
8-7 795 4.99 5.40 4.07 4.16 4.66
8-21 780 4.90 5.30 3.99 4.08 4.57
9-9 720 4.07 4.40 3.32 3.39 3.80
TOTALS 64 h r s . 15 min. 22.24 23.94 18.21 18.92 20.84
AVERAGE 4.45 4.79 3.64 3.78 4.17
Moderate Stress
Date - 7-23 735 4.43 4.23 3.91 ' 3.36 3.98
8-21 740 4.64 4.35 4.03 3.45 4.12
9-9 700 4.55 4.21 3.91 3.34 4.00
TOTALS 36 hrs. 15 min. 13.62 12.79 11 .85 10.15 12.10
AVERAGE 4.54 4.26 3.95 3.38 4.03
Heavy Stress
Date - 8-4 815 5.20 5.18 4.69 4.61 4.92
9-4 795 5.05 4.91 4.47 3.92 4.59
TOTALS 26 h rs . 50 min. 10.25 10.'09 9.16 8.53 9.51
AVERAGE 5.13 5.05 4.58 4.27 4.76

Estimat.ed soil moisture available in the six-foot soil profile at planting was
six inches. Total rainfall during the irrigation season was 12.62 inches.

The full irrigated section had a total of 64 hours 15 minutes of irrigation
run. The rate of application per irrigation ranged from 4.79 acre inches
on Rep 2 to 3.78 acre inches on Rep 4. The average application was 4.17
acre inches for a total of 20.84 acre inches of irrigation water applied.

The full irrigatior: sections were irrigated at the same time the farmer
irrigated the balarice of his field.,

The moderate stres~, irrigated replications were irrigated when the beets
exhibited wil ting Letween 3 and 4 p.m. on days with temperatures more than
850 F. The dates cf irrigation were July 23, August 21,and September 9.
Time of wa ter rUG t ota 1 ed 36 hours 15 mi nutes. Average rate of water
appl ication per inigation was 4.03 acre inches with 4.54 acre inches on
Rep 1 and 3.38 acre inches on Rep 4. Total applied was 12.10 inches.

The heavy stress section of the test was first irrigated August 4. At that
time, the plants were exhibiting severe moisture st;ress, lower leaf loss,