Normally 8-10 gallons of water per minute per acre well capacity for each acre planted are required for horticultural crops. Even with this level of water use requirements, there are several management decisions which can be undertaken to reduce the risk of over-extending an irrigation system. Although drought management decisions are generally the same for vegetable and orchard crops, orchardists are looking at such steps to ease their water shortage immediately since they already have established, perennial trees. Vegetable producers have the ability to evaluate all aspects of their water situation prior to planting and thus have the opportunity to reduce the size of planting, not plant at all, etc. to make this water reach. First and foremost though, the size of the operation must be adjusted to the capacity of the well or water source.
Most producers try to stretch their operation past the limits of their water.
In normal years when we get significant rainfall, we often get by with this deficit water budget. However, in times of drought, these shortfalls cannot be overcome. It is important that one pull back to what he can effectively irrigate, be it trees or vegetables. If not, serious crop damage could result to the entire crop rather than abandoning only a part of the crop. Critically evaluate all soil types of your farming operation.