Improving our ability to water our crops has been on the human consciousness for a long time. Many historians point to the invention of irrigation as one of the most impactful in human history. Ancient Roman aqueducts, built from 312 B.C. to A.D. 226, carried snowmelt from the Alps for bathing and drinking water in Roman cities. Even in Genesis, passages described Adam shepherding the irrigated paradise that was Eden. Growing crops free from the whims of unpredictable rainfall was game-changing for humanity, especially in the arid deserts of Mesopotamia. Using water from the Tigris and Euphrates gave ancient peoples the ability to grow crops year-round, despite a lack of steady rainfall. This is regarded as one of the foundations that allowed civilized society as we understand it today to develop. Growing crops in fields required humans to settle and build semi-permanent architecture instead of continuing the nomadic lifestyles of hunter-gatherers. This change meant people were suddenly faced with free time since food was available without the need to follow herds. Plentiful food gave way to population growth, while the rise of communities and cultures paved the way for today's world.
Without dependable and ample irrigation and the food and freedom it provided, there clearly would have been no pyramids, cities, armies, great Roman empire, or any of their progeny; our world would look vastly different today.
Irrigating Well
Many considerations can be made into the intricate designs that can appear in complex irrigation systems. However, there are basics for understanding the bigger picture regarding how well an irrigation system is functioning.
What's in the Crops?
What is being grown? Different crops, age ranges, root depths, or even varying daily conditions can affect plants' thirst during any particular watering cycle. Here, advanced measurements into soil moisture and root-zone permeation (the level of saturation in the soil around the plant's roots) are precious. Some crops can handle longer times between watering or less water in the first place. In some cases, investing in drought-resistant crops can provide long-term stability for a farmer facing indefinite water shortages.
What's in the Dirt?
The available soil may allow more or less water to pass through (permeation rate) depending on the texture of the earth and the chemical makeup of the dirt itself. It can also hold more or less water depending on the quality of the land, the overall soil salinity, and other intermingled particles. Sandy soil or loamy soil will pull water in different directions during permeation.
What's in the Water?
Successful irrigation management in the modern era demands data, especially when the productivity of a limited amount of farmland is expected to feed the world. Details of exactly how much water is being delivered to a given field represents the most basic of necessary information. A thorough understanding of soil characteristics and up-to-the-minute data about changing saturation levels are critical to helping guide farmers in their daily irrigation plans.
Data about the makeup of irrigation water plays a significant role in that decision-making. Tailwater brings varying levels of nutrients and other chemicals that washed away with the previous irrigation cycle. Those levels need to be accounted for and adjustments made to the following applications of fertilizer and pesticide. Salty soil can become barren if it is repeatedly irrigated with water that already has a high saline content.
(In some cases, a water table observation well may be a huge way to improve your water management and awareness).
What's in the Field?
The size and elevation of the field have a critical impact on water pressure and the direction and amount of drainage. Additionally, knowing how far apart furrows or rows of plants are from one another can assist in controlling runoff and standing water. A topographical map that provides precise measurements and deeper insight into your field's anatomy is a powerful tool when it comes to analyzing your systems. When possible, a measure of external conditions in evapotranspiration, temperatures, and precipitation is a valuable guide into how long to irrigate and when.
Valuable Field Data
- A map defining specific field boundaries
- Drainage management area boundaries and a map of the drainage system
- A map defining the drainage class of the soils
- A topographical soil map to identify elevation grades and contours
- A map defining locations and sizes of existing and planned management systems
- These options are expanding every day, with cutting edge instruments like drones, advanced imaging technology, remote sensing technology, and intricate data collection streamlining water efficiency.
A careful farmer will also frequently inspect and monitor their fields. The presence of pesticides, animal waste, or other dangerous debris can be carried further into your irrigation system, affecting your water quality. Removing these prior to irrigation reduces this risk.
What's in the Pipes?
System uniformity is essential to managing irrigation efficiency. In most designs, a small leak in a tiny section will eventually affect every area around it. An untreated leak can develop into more complex damage or affect water pressure throughout the entire line. Monitoring systems and frequent maintenance will help quickly identify problem areas. This can be accomplished through frequent testing, evaluation, or observation.
