The irrigator must be aware of agronomic practices that favor irrigation and are crop specific, such as proper row widths, appropriate plant populations, higher fertilizer requirements, split applications of fertilizer to minimize leaching potential and hybrid selection. Irrigated crop water management is extremely important to prevent yield loss due to moisture stress, minimize pumping costs and prevent leaching of nutrients. A method of irrigation scheduling must be used. Soil moisture monitoring by the feel method is commonly used, but there are more accurate methods such as the checkbook method. Whichever method is used, it will require increased management skills and additional time.
Irrigation scheduling is a daily process.
The following example development costs are for a center pivot irrigation system covering 130 acres. One well is assumed to provide an adequate water supply of 800 gallons per minute for the system. Included is a chemigation check valve, flowmeter, gate valve, pressure gage, air and pressure relief valves and a chemigation pump with a storage tank. A pipeline from the well to the pivot should be either 8 or 10 inches in diameter to reduce friction loss and provide sufficient carrying capacity. Air and pressure relief valves as well as a pump out must be part of the piping system.