The research pivot he uses covers only 6 acres in one-fourth of a circle. This cost could be cut, however, if the pivot covered 116 acres. A 116-acre pivot is more typical of the size used on farms. At the University of Georgia, a retrofitted irrigation unit shows great promise for saving valuable water. I t's just a matter of time before irrigation becomes a vital component of precision farming.
Water rates are varied, depending on topography, soil type and the soil's water holding ability.
These largely determine the yield differences within fields. Center pivots equipped with precision irrigation technology feature Global Positioning Systems to identify the pivot's precise location within a field. This information is used by computerized controllers that adjust application rates along the pivot's main water line. Before precision irrigation becomes commonplace on farms, variable-rate sprinkler nozzles must be developed and made available. These nozzles would go a long way in cutting costs for computers and the various methods used in precision irrigation to regulate pressure and flow rates.