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WATER EFFICIENCY IN COOL SEASON HAY PRODUCTION
Caleb CarterUW Extension EducatorMaster Hay Grower ProgramLaramie, WYMarch 24, 2015
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IMPROVING FLOOD IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY
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Goal?
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Active root zone
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FLOOD IRRIGATION
• Efficient flood irrigation– Almost filling root
zone– Utilizing or
minimizing runoff
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WHAT ABOUT THE SOIL?
“…and we can save 700 lira by not taking soil samples!”
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The water balance
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Web soil survey
Obtain info on:• Soil type• H2O capacity• infiltration
http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm
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Available soil moisture
• Field Capacity• 50% Available
Water• Permanent
Wilting Point• MAD
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Effects of irrigation on infiltration
Soil Texture
Basic Infiltration Rate (in/hr)
Fine sand 0.50 – 0.75Sandy loam 0.35 – 0.5Silt loam 0.25 – 0.40Clay 0.10 – 0.20
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Management allowable depletion (MAD)
50%Take half, leave half…
…works for water too
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GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS
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FEEL METHOD• If it makes a ball
and falls apart when you bounce it in your hand, needs irrigation
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Water use
AprilM
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September
October
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2.0
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5.0
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Mean CUMax CU Min CU
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th)
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WATER MEASUREMENT
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Irrigation water measurement
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WEIRS
Given: Standard Contracted Rectangular Weir
L = 2 feeth = 0.40 feet
Find: Q, in cfs
Solution: Refer to Table A7-2 in BoR Water Measurement Manual, 3rd
edition
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WEIRS
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Water measurement
• $3 plus shipping from UW Extension
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Volume
• Acre-inch: The volume of water required to cover 1 acre 1-inch deep.
• Acre-foot: The volume of water required to cover 1 acre 1-foot deep.
• 1 cubic foot = 7.48 gallons = 62.4 pounds• 1 acre-inch = 3,630 cubic feet = 27,154
gallons• 1 acre-foot = 12 acre inches = 43,560
cubic feet = 325,851 gallons
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Flow
• 1 acre-inch/hour = approximately 450 gallons per minute = 1 cubic foot per second
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STRATEGIES
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Strategies
• Experience/observation• Gated pipe• Improving irrigation
management• Field leveling• Lining ditches
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Water use efficiency
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Cool season grasses
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Warm season grasses
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SPECIES SELECTION
Drought resistant• Orchard grass• Intermediate
wheatgrass• Other
wheatgrasses– Can tolerate only
spring water
Less resistant• Pubescent
wheatgrass• Intermediate
wheatgrass
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GRAZING• Maintain
stubble at 5 to 6 inches
• Avoid irrigating while grazing
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Boulder watershed study
• Study findings:– Generally, applications by
ranchers sufficient to meet the needs of the crop
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Boulder watershed study
• Producer findings:– Allowed lengthened sets– Can irrigate larger area– More even distribution– Increased yields– Less labor intensive– Feel that it is more
efficient and has increased yields
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Fall irrigation
Why? • Increase fall weed flush
• Can facilitate fall tillage
• Fall plant growth– Tiller production
• Leaching of salts• Storing soil
moisture
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Other considerations…
• Reduced return flows?– Laramie Basin
• 74 wetlands• 65% inflows from irrigation• Most subsurface flows
– Powell, WY example
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Other considerations…
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IRRIGATION STRATEGIES
Furrow• Less efficient• Labor intense• Soil is the conduit to
convey water as well as the absorbing surface
• Often requires a catchment and reuse area at the bottom of the field
• Water delivery schedule/amount
Surge• Can increase
efficiency• Can decrease labor• Addresses soil as the
conduit• Can help reduce runoff
if no catchment area• Can make better use
of water available
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SURGE IRRIGATION
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Irrigator’s equation
Qt = Ad
Q = flow ratet = timeA = area
D = depth
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Irrigator’s equation
d = Qt/A
Q = Ad/t
t = Ad/Q
A = Qt/d
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Irrigator’s equation
Given: d = 3 inches A = 50 acres Q = 2 cfs
Find: Time required to apply d
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Irrigator’s equation
Solution: t = dA/Q
1 cfs ≈ 1 ac-in/hr
t = 75 hours
hrinac
)ac)(in(t
2
503
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Irrigator’s equation
Given: t = 36 hours A = 20 acres
Q = 2 cfs
Find: Depth of applied water, d
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Irrigator’s equation
Solution: d = Qt/A
1 cfs ≈ 1 ac-in/hr
d = 3.6 inches
ac
)hr)(hrinac(
d20
362