The study of Stephen D. Miller that he is performing will help to solve these problems. How Weed Seed gets into Irrigation Water Dissenination of weeds within our region may be accomplished by water carried seeds. Some areas now being opened up for farming and irrigation, a rare opportunity exists for weed seed to grow. No weeds have grown in these areas because the land has lain undisturbed for many years. If the importation of weed seed can be stopped the battle against weeds will be won.
Weeds usually get into irrigation water by growing around or on irrigation ditch banks.
They also can be wind blown into the ditches where they enter the irrigation water. Semiaquatic weeds are often found on the banks of drainage and irrigation ditches. These weeds that take position of ditch banks must be combatted because they cause definite problems to farms. The ditch bank weeds interfere with canal maintanence and often fall into the water, obstructing flow. With the weeds falling in the ditch, this usually results in the quantity of water flowing out of the ditch becoming a lesser value.