Agronomic benefits from timely irrigation practices are well known by agricultural producers in the region. A large, shallow water supply ensures inexpensive irrigation, making it a cost effective management practice.
Public concern runs high over water quantity and quality.
Irrigation water sometimes contains elements and compounds such as nitrate or sodium that are undesirable in terms of human consumption, plant growth or soil environmental processes. However, irrigation water also contains elements or compounds that are essential for plant growth, such as nitrate, phosphate, potassium, sulfate, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper and manganese. Proper crop nutrient management often includes fertilization of some of these nutrients. Most producers do not consider irrigation water nutrient concentrations when developing a fertilization program. This overlooked source of plant nutrients is important and can save producers money and prevent adding of nonessential quantities of nutrients to the agri-ecosystem.