Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1906-09-20
HOW TO APPLY
WATER TO SOIL
Experiments Give Exact
knowledge of Value
to Farmers.


1905 we dug prospect holes from
seven to ten 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 to moisture, the
first 10 inches contained some
moisture, but below it was perfectly
dry, consequently we irrigated be-
fore planting. 1t required pa to 80
hours TO saturate to a depth varying
from seven to ten feet.
no effort was made to determine
the quantity of water used during
the season after that. This year
10000 it was determined to meas
-t1re the amount of water used on
the farm, and the amount running
off to waste, as well as the evap-
Grafton, with view to determin-
ing the quantity of water neces-
sary to keep the soil in proper con-
dition.
The miners inch was used in
measuring half a cubic foot per sec
sond for the farm, and device was
employed in connection to obviatc
any fluctuation in the head. A
weir with an automatic register at
tached was used as a check on the
raiucr's inch measurement, in order
that we might be sure that just the
amount of water desired was sup
Piled
AT the lower end of the farm a
weir and register were installed tor
measuring the waste Elias Nelson,
of the bureau Dt irrigation and
drainage investigation, added an
cooperating tank.
We began irrigating May 2, with
the aomunt of water allowed under
the contract between the settlers
and Twin Falls Land & Water COM
pany-that is, 100 of cubic foot
per second per acre, continuous
flow.
The amount of water applied
during each month up to the first
oof September, 1906, is given below,
as well as the waste and evapora-
ton:
We applied SO ITO inches tc
the acre all told, including the
precipitation, or the equivalent OF
three acre feet, which would
amount to a rainfall of three feet
in four months. The amount evap-
GRATED and used by the plants was
$500 and the waste was 2. 80,
leaving 5.6e4 inches retained il
the soil.
The waste during the month O
July was greater than any othei
month. This occurred while VIZ
were irrigating the lower tier o
plate, and no opportunity was at
forded whereby we could again us'
the waste. The farm consists of Al
acres, and being an experimental
farm, there are a great many differ
ent crops grown requir ing water a
different times and in varyin,
quantities.
The evaporation almost equale'
the amount of water applied during
this month, less the waste ant
evaporation as shown by the cvspo
rating tank.
Assuming that the evaporation
from the water-frec surface in tn
tank was equal to the amount cvap
GRATED from the ground, plus tn
amount used by the crops, we cal
have some idea CT the amount @
water actually required.
No doubt if less water had bee
applied, the results, as far as tn
crop production is concerned, woul
have been the same or greater, a
was indicated by some tests mad
by Mr.. Nelson, showing that tn
third foot of soil lost much les
moisture in a given time than tn
first or second foot. The roots c
certain crops penetrate to dept
where they would be able to draw
upon the moisture to a create
depth than the shallow rooted ones
If all the crops grown had been {
the kind that could have been cul
tivated, thus conserving the mois
ture, 1 am sure much less waite
would have been required.
Taking the four months, or II
days, as the irrigating season, W
used water "a days hours in MAY
20 days in June, ID days hour
in Iuly, and D dyas and hours i
August, leaving 264 days durin
the irrigating season when waite
was not used
These results show that 1-80 {
a cubic foot per second continuol