The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-17
FOR MONTANA AND UTAH
Measurements to Determine the Guam.
tity of Water Used by Farmers
in %Irrigating Crops.

luV~oSLl6dLlOLS LII IIe lIIl6dllOH VI lduu
in Montana and Utah, is given in bull
letin s119, recently issued by the office
of experiment stations of the depart
ment of agriculture. The object
sought in making measurements a.
the experiment station in Montana
during the year 1901 was to deter
mine the quantity of water used by
farmers in irrigating staple crops IN
der usual conditions.
In selecting the fields for detail
work care was taken that they should
represent average conditions. The
fact was recognized that there is
great difference in the efficiency OF
bitches. Some, by reason of their
length and the character of material
through which they pass, lose a large
percentage of the volume Of water
which passes though their headgates.
Since it was desired to ascertain the
quantity required to irrigate growing
crops, the water was measured as 1t
entered each field. In this way the
loss Of water by seepage and evapo-
ration was practically eliminated from
field experiments which were conduct
ed at the experiment station at Boze-
man.
The land was used principally for
the growing of grain, clover and al
falfa. 1t should be noted that the
soil consists of from four to five feet
with an undetermined depth of gravel
and cobblestones.
A few of the u experiments made
at the station may be taken as fairly
representative:
Field No. 1, in clover, was irrigated
twice between May l n September
Z. The depth of the water used in
irrigation was II inches, rainfall :
inches; total depth of water received
during growth 10 inches.
In field No. 2, also in clover, the
depth of water applied in three irriga'
lions during the growing season was
% inches, rainfall 8 inches; total
depth received, so inches. The yield
of clover from this field was three and
one-half tons an acre.
An experiment with a field OF wheat
is reported, showing two irrigatlons
one in June and the other in July
during which the depth of water ap
plied by irrigation was 14R inches
and rainfall 5 inches. making 1917
inches OF water APPLIED to the lane
during the growing. season. The ylell
was AZ bushels an acre.
Lands under the Middle creek canal
comprising al area OF 1856 acres
cultivated in grains and clover, re
ceiyed a depth of 2S inches by irrlga
ton and 9 inches by rainfall, maklns
a total OF 81 inches OF water use'
between May / and September 81
This, however, is the quantity meas
ured at the headgate and included los
by seepage and evaporation.
An interesting experiment on a ~
acre tract of a ~six-year-old orchar'
on the Bitter Root stock farm snow
that by four irrigations, between Apr
Is and September 2, a depth or L
inches of water was applied, to whicl
should be added a rainfall OF b lnches
making a total depth OF "a inches o
water Used upon the orchard durlh'
tho coocOO
In the Investigations in Utah Col
siderable attention was given TO IN
determination of the quantity OF wale
lost nv seepage. This was found I
vary much with the s~ection~of ditto
investigated. From measurements o
the Rear river canal it is conclude
that the loss of water after 1t passe
the headgate may safely be taken
Is per cent of the total =
the ditch. The area under this ditto
aggregating 10000 acres, received ou!
ing the season of 1901 So inches
depth of water. The rainfall was
inches, giving a total depth OF .
inches. Allowing for the loss OF l
per cent of irrigation water, the tot'
depth delivered to the land, ncludln
rainfall. reached 81 inches.
One of the laterals of the Bear rive
caaal. known as AIS, supplies an are
of 2cs acres, which is divided I'M
small farms, ranging from 4 to 4
acres. The water was distributed ovf
these on the time basis, each far'
receiving the entire flow OF the later
for a period of time proportioned
it's acreage. The period of rotatlt
u,ar souon daus This rave To Aa6