1: Introduction to Irrigation
- Page ID
- 44283
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 1.1: Introduction
- Even in areas where average seasonal precipitation may seem ample, rains are frequently unevenly distributed, or soils have low water holding capacities so that traditional rainfed agriculture is a high-risk enterprise. Irrigation provides a means for stable food production. In some areas, irrigation prolongs the effective growing season.
- 1.2: Role of Irrigation
- Any attempt to irrigate must be based on a thorough understanding of soil-water-plant relationships. The movement of water, once applied, consists of a sequence of dynamic processes beginning with the entry of water into the soil, called infiltration. The rate of infiltration is governed by the rate at which water is applied to the soil surface, as long as the application rate does not exceed the capacity of the soil to absorb it.
- 1.3: Irrigation Development
- In North America, irrigation is known to have existed among Native Americans of the southwest as early as 1200 B.C.E. Early Spanish explorers found evidence of irrigation canals and diversion points along rivers. The Spaniards introduced new irrigation methods and irrigated crops such as grapes, fruits, vegetables, olives, wheat, and barley. As in other areas of the world, irrigation made it possible for Native Americans to develop.
- 1.4: Impact of Irrigation on Water Resources and the Environment
- Water quality concerns include both groundwater and surface water. Irrigation often results in deep percolation, resulting in the leaching of soluble fertilizers or other chemicals (Chapter 5). In some areas, nitrate leaching has resulted in groundwater nitrate concentrations above the maximum concentration allowed for human consumption. Deep percolation can be minimized with good irrigation scheduling (Chapter 6). Runoff from irrigation can contain nutrients, pesticides, and sediments.
- 1.5: Irrigation Management Concepts
- Modern irrigation management is based on the concept of soil-plant-water relations. This concept is a unification system in which all processes are interdependent. In this unified system, called the soil-plant-atmosphere relations, the availability of soil water is not a property of the soil alone, but a function of the plant, soil, and environment. The rate of water uptake by the plant depends on the root's ability to absorb water from the soil, the soil's ability to transmit water toward...
- 1.6: Summary
- Various irrigation systems and their operation and management are then presented in the context of each system’s advantages and disadvantages. Procedures for determining when and how much irrigation water to apply are discussed in detail throughout this text to assist the reader in being as efficient as possible when utilizing this precious resource, water.
- 1.7: Questions
- Name the three states west of the Mississippi River with the largest irrigated areas. Which state gained the most acres of irrigated land? Which state gained the most acres of irrigated land? Which state gained the most acres of irrigated land?
- 1.8: References
- Irrigation Journal. (1971). Irrigation survey. Irrig. J., 21(5), 10-17. Irrigation Journal. (2000). 1999 Annual irrigation survey. Irrig. J., 50(1), 16-31. Irrigation Journal. (2001). 2000 Annual irrigation survey. Irrig. J., 51(1), 12-30, 40-41.