The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1916-01-21
TIME OF APPLYING
IRRIGATION WATER
The Time of Applying Water as Well
as the Amount, Doubtless Has
Much to Do With the Yield

ne lme OF Applying water aS WeH
as the Amount, Doubtless Has
Much to Do With the Yield
The following extracts are from
Bulletin No. 11S of the Utah Agricul-
tural Experiment station located at
Logan, Utah, and the work done was
on the Franhauser and Greenville
farms of that section.
: The time at which water is applied
to crops determines largely the yield.
This question is only partially under
stood although much discussion has
been carried on concerning it. Prac-
teal difficulties confront the farmer
who attempts to apply water at def
mite times. The flow of water is con-
tinuous turnout the season, and to
prevent waste should be used contin-
uously. This, obviously, can be done
only by a system of rotation whereby
each farmer of the hundreds under
the canal is given a definite quantity
of water at regular intervals. Should
the farmer use certain stream of wa
ter once a week, or a stream twice as
large every two weeks or one three
times as large every three weeks
The practices of irrigation companies
differ exceedingly in this matter. In
some cases water is supplied to the
farmers in small streams twice
week, in others the farmer has to
wait from three weeks to q month
for his turn. Considering the uniform
distribution of labor, the frequent re-
ceipt of water from the ditch is pref /
cradle, on the other hand, some farm |
ers favor long intervals, so that the |
task of irrigating may come as sell
dom as possible, for the labor is Sc
we're while it lasts. The irrigated sec
ton is in serious need of definite in
formation concerning the right time
to apply water so that these questions
of water rotation that confront the
irrigation companies may be settled
on the basis of rational practice.
Whether the water is received fire.
quently or at long intervals the ques-
ton always remains as 10 the best use
OF thu water efter it is or the land.
In the first series of experiments
about 3.5 inches of water were used.
This is equivalent to one fair sized
irrigation. In one case this was ap-
piled at the usual time of the first
ion, hot fe oh Of /
the middle of June. In the second case
the irrigation was delayed until the
heads (of wheat were FILLING out"
When the water was applied, at the
time of filling out" there was a gain
of about three bushels of wheat per
acre, and a diminution of about 161
pounds of straw compared with the
crop obtained with the June irriga-
ton. The latter irrigation seemed to .
enable the plant to transfer more of
the nutritive materials from the
stocks to the heads.
In the next series of experiments
about 6.5 inches of water were APP
Piled in one and in two irrigations :.
With the latter the yield of grain
vas about two bushels over that OBJ
aimed when the water was applied in
me irrigation, but the yield of straw =
vas somewhat decreased. This also
GEMS to imply that it is advantage :,
us to apply water again after the be-
inning of the irrigation season.
In the next series rs inches were !,
pplied in two irrigations, but in three Il
ifferent ways; first in two equal ir- =,
igations; second, one light and the &c
econd heavy; third, one heavy and G,
ne second light. The largest yield of
rain was obtained when the water
as applied in two equal irrigations; :
We next highest, when the lighter ir-
gation came first. The yield of =;
raw varied in just the opposite man m
or. being smallest when the water 90
as applied in two equal irrigations, ~
nd largest when the heavy irrigation
ime first. This goes to show that the -
feet of the manner CT application 10
as to decrease or increase the ease ia
it'll which the materials stored in m;
lie stalks can be CARRIED to the ;o1
sads. When it is considered that
q grain has much higher value, ~
,und for pound, than the straw, any II.
ethod of irrigation that will enable Bl