Irrigation

The 2013 forage production season has now come to a close, and you may be wondering why the magazine features an article on irrigation management when no one is irrigating.

Micro-irrigation, also known as drip irrigation, is the fastest-growing irrigation technology in the world.

A problem facing many irrigation managers is that they would like to apply less water per irrigation, but can’t.

Both water management and irrigation system maintenance can help maximize forage production with a limited water supply. Currently, in Idaho, reservoir storage is low, giving little carryover water to augment a potentially short snow year.

Researchers at UC Davis have developed a wireless wetting-front monitoring and a cellular communication system for use in flood-irrigated alfalfa and other surface-irrigated crops. Using individually numbered wireless sensors placed in the field, water arrival to a specific location is detected.

Irrigation has enhanced corn production significantly in the U.S. over the past several years. However, concerns have increased about the sustainability of irrigated corn acres during a time of declining surface and groundwater supplies as well as increased pump costs.