Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
IRRIGATION
Heavy irrigation at longer intervals develops better root systems and hardier pasture than
does more frequent light watering. Sandy soils have lower water-holding capacities and
therefore require more frequent irrigation, while clay soils are not porous and hold water
longer, but much of the water is unavailable to plants because it is held so tightly by the
soil. Loam soils generally have the highest plant-available water-holding capacities.
Most pasture and hay fields need somewhere around 24 to 36 inches of water per year,
so you may need to supplement your natural water supply to get the maximum yield from
your pastures. Irrigation equipment can be expensive and is labor-intensive, but the yield
per acre of hay grown with irrigation is often twice that of hay grown without it.
To consider using irrigation, you must have access to a large water source and in some
areas “water rights” from a water-use agency. You can irrigate by surface flooding, furrows,
or sprinklers. Surface flooding is not good for rolling pastures; the land must be leveled
and graded with a slope of 0.1 to 0.4 feet of grade per 100 feet of length. Furrows should
be designed and regulated so they can be irrigated and drained efficiently, because standing
water (for more than 24 hours) encourages mosquito and horsefly breeding. Sprinklers are
difficult to manage in areas of high wind and lose a lot of water to evaporation, so they are
best when used in areas of high humidity. Sprinkler systems are the most expensive irrig-
ation method initially but require less labor to operate, and they allow for the most even
distribution of water.
Hay varieties and characteristics
