Thus, the uniformity of application is significantly improved. The second water savings characteristic of surge flow comes in the cutback phase. The rapid cycling of the water flow in the cutback phase reduces the flow rate in the furrow, and hence the runoff is reduced during the time needed to completely fill the root zone. In the ideal situation, only enough water would be admitted to the furrow to supply the intake requirements of the furrow. In reality it is difficult to reach the ideal, but some of the available equipment can come close to it.
Crop yield is improved due to the improved uniformity of application.
The crop is much more uniform throughout the length of the field. In 1985, one half of a 35-acre corn field was irrigated with this equipment, and the other half irrigated with siphon tubes. Using the identical cultural practices except for irrigation, the remaining 18 acres produced 148 bushels per acre. Maintenance is relatively simple. In such an advance phase, water is in the furrow for 30 minutes and out for 30 minutes, then back in again and so on until it reaches the end of the furrow.