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<br />, <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />'1 operators of open systems can seldom approach the water management <br />I , <br />2 efficl.ency that unskilled operators can attain with closed systems. <br /> <br />3 If we are serious about solving the world food problem, and I think <br /> <br />4 we are, we need to opt for the possible solutions. <br /> <br />Water is a necessary <br />" <br />0/-' <br />irrl.gated land area at <br /> <br />5 input before other inputs can help. Doubling our <br /> <br />6 present irrigation energy efficiencies to meet sustained food needs, wit <br /> <br />7 present fossil fuel reserves, is not possible. Training the required <br /> <br />8 number of skilled water managers to gain the level of water control <br /> <br />9 necessary to intensify food production sufficiently with the present <br /> <br />10 irrigation systems is only slightly more likely to be possible. Develop <br /> <br />11 ing the capital to install inherently efficient water delivery systems <br /> <br />12 that will give farmers independent control is expensive in the short run <br /> <br />13 but possible. It's a matter of choosing this investment over alterna- <br /> <br />14 tive ways we can spend our capital. The catalytic impact efficient <br /> <br />15 water control could have in permitting multiple cropping, taking the <br /> <br />16 risk out of investing other inputs, saving valuable nutrients, reversing <br /> <br />17 the alarming rate of waterlogging and salination, and permitting new <br /> <br />18 lands that were'previously useless to be i=igated with the saved water <br /> <br />19 by high-frequency i=igation may be more than worth the one-time cost. <br /> <br />, <br />201 Closed-conduit supply and distribution sys~ems not only have inherent <br /> <br />?1. ",':,.<!bility for: efficient water control, they also save energy by con- <br /> <br />nJ. " 1 . 1 . th f. f . d <br />~~ ~eL~l.Ug gravl.tatl.ona potentl.a energy l.n e orm 0 pressure requl.re <br /> <br />23 for efficient i=igation. In an energy-short future, systems that oper- <br /> <br />24 ate without additional energy input for pumping should be given high <br /> <br />,-- <br />"'J priority. <br /> <br />26 <br /> <br />27 <br /> <br />().;2887 <br />