IRRIGATION METHODS


This graph shows corn yield in 2018 at the Long Water Technology Farm, where the producer uses MDI randomly on the span with bubbler and spray nozzles. MDI shows that if operated at a lower well capacity of 250 gpm, the yield was higher than bubbler and spray, and almost comparable to the yield of spray at 500 gpm.


physical damage and clogging potential are relatively high. The use of a more aggressive filter system is imperative driving the conversion cost higher.


There are, however, some niches that MDI might be able to fill. For fields that have wheel track problems, using MDI might help alleviate the problem. To prevent irrigation water with high salt content or


This shows corn yield at research plots where MDI (1 and 2 gpm emitters), spray and bubbler nozzle packages are evaluated in the same center pivot, mimicking several well capacities. Except for MDI with 2 gpm emitter at 600 gpm, MDI seems to numerically outperform the yields from other sprinkler packages across different well capacities.


other contaminants from getting into the leaves or plant parts, MDI on a circular- planted field may satisfy that condition. MDI could also work better in some undulating fields with low infiltration rate soils.


Utilizing MDI shows potential in increasing irrigation efficiency and solving some issues with center pivot irrigation systems. The system still faces some


SDI: Research addresses questions


By James P. Bordovsky, PE, F. ASABE I


n the Texas south Plains, water table declines in the Ogallala Aquifer and early season evaporative demand present major challenges to irrigated producers. This has helped motivate the transition of more than 300,000 acres to subsurface drip


irrigation from other methods. Researchers at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in Halfway, Texas, are conducting SDI experiments in attempt to answer producer questions and improve overall rainfall and irrigation productivity in this region.


One challenge to wider adoption of SDI is inconsistent cottonseed germination and plant establishment due to traditionally dry overwinter conditions and, in some soils, the difficulty of “pushing” irrigation water upward into the seed germination


irrigationtoday.org


Connections between water supply manifolds and sub- surface drip irrigation laterals in a field near Halfway, Texas


Fall 2020 | Irrigation TODAY 11


challenges in terms of design, operation and management, including cropping management. It would not be surprising to see more design changes and possibly incorporation of other existing or new technologies in the future.


Jonathan Aguilar, PhD, PE  engineer for the Kansas State University 


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