East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-09-10
AMOUNT OF WATER
NEEDED FOR CROPS.

mental farm at that place, delivered
an address yesterday at the Boise ir-
riSation congress, on the subject "The
Duty Of Water and the Best Methods
OF Applying it,"
Since the soil Of the Twin Falls dis
trict is light volcanic ash and sim.
liar to that of Umatilla county, his
Investigations will prove interesting TO
Umatilla county farmers.
The address was well delivered and
brought out many expressions of ap-
probation. 1t was in part as follows;
The soil on the Twin Falls tract is
commonly considered to be of vol
canic origin, varying from two feet
to an unknown depth, consisting Of
very fine particles.
When we began work on the Twin
Falls experimental farm in 1905, we
dug prospect holes from seven to 10
feet in depth in order to determine
the character of the soil, and the
amount of moisture present. The only
difference we observed in the soil was
that the first foot was somewhat
darker in color. With regard ot mois-
ture the first is inches contained
some moisture, but below it was per-
fectly dry, consequently we irrigated
before planting. 1t required "a to
SO hours to saturate to a depth vary
ing from seven to 10 feet.
No effort was made to determine
the quantity of water used during the
season after that. This year Q906)
it was determined to measure the
amount of water used on the farm,
and the amount running off as waste,
as we'll as the evaporation, with a view
to determining the quantity of water
necessary to keep the soil in proper
condition.
The miners inch was used in meas
uring half a cubic foot per second for
the farm. and a device was employed
in connection to obviate any fluctua-
ton i'm the head. A weir with an au-
tomato register attached was used as
check on the miners inch measure
ment in order that we might he sure
that Just the amount of water desired
was supplied.
At the lower end of the farm a weir
register was installed for measuring
the waste. Elias Nelson of the bureau
of irrigation and drainage iuvestiga-
ton. added an eyaporating tank.
We began irrigating May ?. with the
amount of water allowed under the
contract between the settlers and the
Twin Falls Land & Water company
that is. 1-SO Of n cubic foot per second
per acre. continuous flow.
The amount Of water applied dur-
ing each month up to the first of Sep
tember. 1906. is given below. as well
as the waste and evaporation:
Total amount applied. 800 inches:
total percentage. 100 pIus.
Total amount precipltation. O: total
percentage. 12A
Total amount wasted 449: total
percentage. "A.
| Total amount evaporated. 2S.O6: to,
| tai percentage. 77.7.
Total per cent wasted IA.
Total per cent evanorated 77.7.
Total difference COR water retained
bv the soiD. 5.694 inches; 15.S per
cent
The waste during the month o,
July was greater than any other
month. This occurred while we yrera
irrigating the lower tier of pIats and
no opportunftv was afforded where
bv we could again use the waste
The farm consists of 40 acres. and be-
ing an governmental farm. there ars
great many different crops grown.
recurring water at different times and
in various quantities.
The evaporation almost eo1aled tho
amount of water appIied during this
month. less the waste and evanoration
as shown bv the evaporatiug tank
Assuming that the evaporation
from the water-free surface I'm the
tank was equal to the amount evapor-
ated from the ground plus the
amount used by the crops we can
| have some idea of the amount of wa>
ter actually required.
No doubt if less water had been ap-
piled. the results. as far as the crop
production is concerned. would have
been the same or greater. as was indi-
Gated by some tests made by Mr.. Mel
| son. showing that the third foot of soil
/ lost much less moisture in given
/ time than the first or second foot.
| The roots of certain crops penetrate
| to a depth where they would be able
| to draw upon the moisture to a great
| er depth than the shallow rooted ones
| If all the crops grown had been of
| the kind that could have been culti-