Irrigation Water Conservation Efforts at the UGA C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park
Author(s)
Perry, Calvin
Yager, Radford
Advisor(s)
Editor(s)
Carroll, G. Denise
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Abstract
Persistent drought, energy costs, urban expansion, and interstate litigation are collectively threatening irrigation water supplies in many parts of the U.S. Efficient agricultural water use is critical for sustainable economic development in rural areas – even in the humid southeast where annual precipitation exceeds 50 in. If irrigated agriculture is to survive in this competitive environment, we must conserve irrigation water use. UGA developed the C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park (SIRP) as a state-of-the-art irrigation research and education center to assist farmers in managing irrigation and the general public in understanding the role of water in the economy of the southwest Georgia region. One of the goals for the Park is to find more efficient ways to apply irrigation water. Currently, SIRP and its associated researchers are evaluating several tools, techniques, and/or practices that have the potential to conserve considerable amounts of irrigation water. These tools/practices include low pressure drop nozzle retrofits, variable-rate irrigation controls on center pivot irrigation systems, advanced irrigation scheduling (including use of remote soil moisture monitoring via sensors), subsurface drip irrigation, and conservation tillage. Partnerships with various likeminded groups have enabled many of the tools/practices to be transferred to working farms for further evaluation. Education and outreach activities by SIRP personnel help irrigators better understand the opportunities for adopting the tools/practices on their farms.
Sponsor
Sponsored by:
Georgia Environmental Protection Division
U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Water Science Center
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Water Resources Institute
The University of Georgia, Water Resources Faculty
Date
2011-04
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Resource Type
Text
Resource Subtype
Proceedings