What is it?

Irrigation managment is a critical best management practice for running an efficient working ranch or farm. Irrigation managment can conserve substantial amounts of water, increase farm and ranch production and profit, and prevent damage to the land through erosion and nutrient runoff.

Irrigation management strategies should consider:

1. Irrigation audits
2. Monitoring water use
3. Implementing an irrigation schedule
4. Upgrading to more efficient irrigation equipment and strategies (especially from flood irrigation)
5. Lining irrigation ditches
6. Planting vegetation in drainage ditches

Conservation Benefits

• Reduces the amount of water needed for farm and ranch production
• Reduces chemical runoff into riparian and stream habitats
• Reduces sediment erosion off the farm or ranch into riparian areas and streams

What does it include?

Irrigation audits : involves two major components 1.) determing the most appropriate frequency, duration, and timing for irrigation of target crops and 2.) determing current efficiency of irrigation equipment to schedule maintenance or replacement. Both of these actions will decrease the amount of water used and ensure more efficient use of the water.

Implementing an irrigation schedule : after an irrigation audit, an irrigation schedule can be set electronically or manually to irrigate with appropriate frequency, duration, and timing.

Monitoring water use: can involve actions like soil moisture testing to determine if crops are getting the appropriate amount of water or installing meters on wells to monitor for irrigation leaks and allow landowners to be more aware of water use

Upgrading to more efficient irrigation equipment and strategies (especially from flood irrigation): will allow for better crop production, more efficient use of water, and in some regions decreasing rates of salinity buildup in soils

Lining irrigation ditches : decreases the amount of water lost to evaporation and infiltration.

Planting vegetation in drainage ditches : reduces amount of erosion and soil that leave the property, promotes water infiltration, and reduces the amount of chemicals and nutrients that reach nearby streams.