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Resources |
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| http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/water/pubwater.html
Two to four page articles on water resources related
to Crops, Food and Nutrition, and Gardening.
The
Water Center brings together a rich history in
water related education and research with diverse
talent from 25 different departments at Colorado StateUniversity
to form a group of educators and researchers interested
in water resources.
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/menudrought.html
Available resources provided by Cooperative Extension
as well as related links to help the Colorado citizen
deal with the current drought.
Colorado
State University Cooperative Extension
Provides
technical information, publications and training in
best management practices, irrigation, salinity, and
water quality. State and regional water quality specialists
provide unbiased, research-based information to address
a variety of water issues in Colorado.
Sustainable
Agriculture in Colorado
Created to find solutions
to the growing challenges that face our Colorado farms
and ranches. Programs such as water quality, value-added,
and niche marketing are helping Colorado improve the
local economy, communities, and their livelihoods.
www.smartditch.com
There are vast potential savings opportunities from water
conservation measures in ditches and canals servicing the
world's food and livestock production. SmartDitch™ liners
can increase water distribution in gravity-fed irrigation
systems by as much as 90 percent - and at substantially lower
costs than with alternative methods such as concrete or pipe.
Limited Irrigation
Management
Full irrigation is the amount needed to achieve maximum yield;
however, when irrigation water is insufficient to meet crop
demand, limited irrigation management strategies should be
considered. These strategies manage the limited water to achieve
the highest possible economic return. Restrictions on water
supply are the primary reasons for using limited irrigation
management. These restrictions may come in the form of mandated
water allocations, from both ground water and surface water
supplies, low yielding wells, or drought conditions which
decrease available surface water supplies.
The key management choices for dealing with insufficient irrigation
supplies are to: 1) reduce irrigated acreage; 2) reduce amount
of irrigation water applied to all acres; 3) substitute low-water
requirement crops for high-water requirement crops; 4) delay
irrigation until a critical water stage; and 5) manage soil
moisture to capture precipitation. |
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Weather
Station
Photo courtesy Dr. Mike Bartolo, PhD |
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Crop
Residue and Irrigation Water Management
Crop residue cover and tillage practices play important roles
in the way that crops use water, and also affect the ability
of irrigation systems to replace that water. The effects of
these practices and other influencing factors are discussed
in this NebGuide. Tillage practices and crop residue management
play an important role in the way that irrigation systems
perform and are managed. Tillage practices affect the way
that water moves into and off of the soil (infiltration and
runoff). Tillage practices also affect the way that water
moves from the soil into the atmosphere (evapotranspiration).
Selecting
and Using Irrigation Propeller Meters
This NebGuide discusses the use of propeller type irrigation
meters to monitor irrigation water use. Measuring irrigation
water is important in efficient water management. Measuring
water can be used for the following purposes: Checking irrigation
efficiency, determining pumping plant efficiency, and detecting
well and pump problems.
Irrigation
Canal
Photo courtesy Dr. Mike Bartolo, PhD |
Propeller
Meters for Irrigation
- Accurate measurement of water helps producers increase
irrigation efficiencies, and reduce both energy and costs.
- Flow measurement facilitates water management. This
can be done with the use of a flow measuring device.
- Propeller meters can provide accurate measurement of
flow rate and volume if properly selected, installed and
maintained.
Irrigation
Scheduling: The Water Balance Approach
- Irrigation scheduling by the water-balance approach
is analogous to running a checkbook balance.
- Advertised evapotranspiration rates can be used to run
water balance and schedule irrigation.
- Ready-to-use computer programs facilitate the use of
the water-balance approach in irrigation scheduling.
- Soil water-content measurements are needed as a safety
check on the predicted water content and irrigation timing.
Lake Meredith |
Seasonal
Water Needs and Opportunities for Limited Irrigation for Colorado
Crops
- Knowing seasonal crop water requirements is crucial
for planning your crop mixture.
- Net crop requirements are estimated using models, based
on weather variables.
- To water for the greatest return, producers need to
understand how crops respond to water, how crop rotation
enhances water availability, and how changes in agronomic
practices effects water needs.
Colorado High Plains Irrigation Practices Guide
Provides a summary of the documented water savings options for irrigators in Colorado. It provides details regarding what options are available from water conservation, how these options are used to conserve water and expected water savings that can be achieved.
Plasticulture – Home Grown and High Tech
Plasticulture consists of Drip Irrigation and Plastic Mulch, explanation how plasticultures are helping farmers create an even better vegetable crop.
McCrometer’s Propeller meters
McCrometer has set the standard for propeller flowmeter technology in the agricultural and turf markets since 1955. Its uniquely-designed Mc Propeller line offers an economical and versatile flow measurement solution for a wide range of water applications, and is especially suited to dirty water flows.
Furrow Crop Irrigation |
Netafim Drip Irrigation Products
Netafim offers a full range of products to satisfy all your drip/micro irrigation needs – including dripperlines, sprinklers, filters, valves, crop management technologies and other vital system support - such as technical education and agronomic expertise.
Diversity D Inc. – Specializing in Drip Irrigation
Diversity D offers consultation, design & installation for new systems. In addition, they offer service for existing systems.
Mobile Irrigation Labs (MILs)
Specialized labs on wheels developed to help people conserve water by evaluating irrigation systems and their operation. It is offered as a free public service to both the urban and agricultural communities.
Water
Right Web Page
Water
Budget Scheduling
Kansas
State Irrigation Software
Using
ET Reports for Center Pivot Irrigation Scheduling:
Using
ET Reports for Furrow Irrigation Scheduling:
ET
Primer
Predicting
Final Irrigation
Spectrum Technologies Incorporated - Weather and environmental monitoring, nutrient management, soil and water quality and IPM management resources.
The Family Farm Alliance is a powerful advocate for family farmers, ranchers, irrigation districts, and allied industries in seventeen Western states. The Alliance is focused on one mission - To ensure the availability of reliable, affordable irrigation water supplies to Western farmers and ranchers.
http://agwaterconservation.colostate.edu/
This website is a clearinghouse of information about agricultural water conservation. The project's goals are to increase access to information which will help build collaborative relationships between and among agencies region and nation-wide, provide technical expertise regarding agricultural water conservation, and offer detailed information on the management, policies, and laws surrounding agricultural water conservation.
http://cwrri.colostate.edu/other_files/Ag%20water%20conservation%20paper%20Feb%2011%20(2).pdf
The Colorado Ag Water Alliance is an association of agricultural organizations
committed to the preservation of irrigated agriculture through the wise use of
Colorado's water resources. Agriculture in Colorado currently owns and manages the
majority of the state's water rights, placing this water to beneficial use for the
production of our food, feed, fiber, and bioenergy crops. There is a public perception
that implementation of agricultural water conservation measures such as canal lining
and conversion to sprinklers can easily provide additional water supplies to meet
growing demands for urban, industrial, recreation, and environmental water needs in
Colorado. To address these perceptions, an analysis of the current scientific literature
and the administrative precedents in Colorado was undertaken to identify the
opportunities and challenges associated with irrigation water conservation. This
document is not a legal brief; it is intended to help foster dialog and a greater
understanding of the challenges facing irrigated agriculture in Colorado. |
