TECHNOLOGY
IT IS KEY TO REMEMBER THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM FROM THE WATER SUPPLY TO THE ROOT SYSTEMS IS THE SOIL ITSELF.
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– outlet spacing. Given the effective radius of the sprinkler, what does the outlet spacing need to be for adequate coverage of water to the soil? You will want
to place sprinklers so that they can cover each other as much as possible given the available span pipe coupler spacing. As a rule-of-thumb for over-canopy sprinklers, 150% coverage should be considered a minimum.
– pressure. At this outlet spacing and canopy placement of the sprinklers, which pressure is optimal? If the sprinklers are above the canopy, they can benefit
from pressure to achieve maximum radius. Higher pressures can also lead to wider radius, higher uniformity and gentle droplets. If sprinklers are down in the crop canopy and closer together, a lower pressure 10 psi regulator is commonly a great choice.
– soil intake rate. You will need to know your soil intake rate and water-holding capacity within the crop’s root depth. If, when all of the above-mentioned
decisions have been made and the soil intake rate and surface storage in the field are exceeded, there will be potential for runoff. We must be able to meet our crop evapotranspiration demands and avoid runoff of water and nutrients from the field or within the field. If excessive water runoff is an issue, go back through the CROPS acronym again to find ways to reduce the average application rate while still meeting the maximum crop ET. You may need to place the sprinklers higher or even switch to a different type of sprinkler or drop for increased radius. Another consideration could be to increase the amount of crop residue in the field, increasing soil surface penetration and storage. Runoff must be eliminated and maximum uniformity achieved. Part-circle sprinkler technology also helps prevent wheel track issues, which can be affected by the soil intake rate.
Whether you are buying a new center pivot or updating an existing water application package, use these ideas to get the most out of your investment. Using the suggestions provided in the CROPS acronym can help you optimize your sprinkler package given the canopy height, soil, topography and climate while meeting your crop potential.
, is a territory manager at Nelson Irrigation Corporation.
C.R.O.P.S. is a trademark of Nelson Irrigation Corporation.
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