The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1911-12-14

AQA NAt past w L0cA ~ val ~
which il i hoped 20 determine this
very important factor, and we have
secured a vast amount of data con-
corning it. These experiments have
all been carried out on comparative
~ large areas and in a practical
way.
1t does not give any indication of
how much water is necessary for
maximum crop production on any
soil to merely measure the amount
that some farmer applies for the rea-
son that the same or a larger crop
might have been produced with either
more or less water than that which
was really used, so we have been
trying to work out this feature by
selecting a large number Of tracts
on typical farms in different parts OF
Idaho and then divide each tract in
to three different parts and apply
different amounts of water to each
one. Water was measured and var
led in this manner on 60 different
farms during 1910 and on as many
more during the past season. Sew
eral factors in regard to the use of
water have been very strongly en-
phasized, the principal ones being
JhaJ the mOun of water required
depends upon. Cd The character Of
the soil and sub-soil. The texture
of the soil as regards porosity has
more to do with the amount of wa
ter used than any other one thing
and it has been found hat adobe
soils may be irrigated with a total
application of but 2 or 3 acre inches
while in some instances from / to 2
acre feet are required to spread over
and thoroughly irrigate an acre of
gravelly soil. AT least % of
this latter amount is almost invar-
iably wasted as it either passes into
the ground water or p%ercolates be-
yond the reach of the plant roots.
If coarse soil is underlaid with an
stratum, the mount of
water necessary is materially cut
down, while if the impervious stra-
is lacking, some irrigation sys-
must be used which Will flood
ground quickly before the water
has time TO penetrate too deeply if
high duty is to be secured.
CD Climatic Conditions=The an
nual precipitation and its seasonal
distribution, together with the tenn
)erature, humidity n wind move
nent, all have a very evident effect
Ipon the amoun of water required.
Cd Diversification of Farm Crops
Where a farm is all devoted to one
.rop such as grain, hay or potatoes,
greatest need for water usually
alls within a comparatively short
ime, and there is but little use for
t during the rest of the season, while
" diversifying his crops, the farm
need for water will be more on
tant and he is better able to make
God use of a contiguous flow of the
itch throughout the season.
"a Use of RotatIon=It is we'll
nown to most irrigators that little
be accomplished by ~irrigating
nth small heads of water, and a
luch larger and better use is Sc
ured from the water where larger
eads can be used. Rotation sys-
ems, by means of which a farmer
exchange water with his neigh
or and use larger heads for shorter
eriods, are now being used with
access in many localities and the
aving of water is very material.
CD Preparation of the Land
Iaximum crop production can not
e secured without a uniform wetting
{ the soil and this is impossible il
lie land is not properly prepared and
,veled for irrigation. Rough, un-
ven land. it is plain to see, requires
Iore water than smooth land, for it
to be held on the land long
lough to soak up the high spots.
areful preparation of the land is an
necessity if the best use is
be secured from the water.
Co Kind of crop grown whether
.lltivated or non-cultivated and
myth of season that it needs water
a very direct bearing upon the
mount of water that will be re-
Iired by the crop. Spring grains,
4 account of their short season of
,owth require considerably less wa
r than alfalfa which grows from
lrly spring until late fall. Winter
-ains, all other things being equal,
,quires less irrigation water thar
grains. because of their abil-
y to utilize more of the moisture
sposited in the soil from winter
'ecipitation. A crop hat can be
lltivated will need considerably less
ater than a non-cultivated one be-
use of the great saving hal can
made by the reduction of the
through cultivation.
1t is as easy to apply too much
ater as it is to apply too little and
cry bit as harmful. The expert
carried on this year at Good
g show up the results of over-ir-
very clearly. We had 81
fferent plots of wheat consisting of
varieties of 7 plots each. These
ere planted and handled in exactly
e same name except that differ
It amounts of water were applied
each plot, all three varieties be-
g handled alike as a check one up
another. The water applied to
oh of the three series of plots was
ried all the way from nothing up
the first plot of each series, to
average depth of approximately
feet where the greatest amount
is applied. with the TRY
lere no water was applied, the
ED was approximately 1000 pounds
r acre. AS the moun of water