Irrigation practices can be influenced by many means from season to season. Some of the factors are temperature, equipment, soil types, rain amounts and distribution, farming practices, etc. This year was noted that overall we had a dry August. In short things can change from year to year and the farmer must adapt to ensure they produce a good marketable crop.
This year we established 3 updated infield units to collect information on 3 different farming operations. Let's look at some of the things involved in water conservation concerning the use of the infield unit. First is the placement of the unit near the last levee of the rice field. This is what we want to eliminate ground water that would be wasted by going over the last levee out of the field. How the infield unit saves water is it notifies the farmer by a phone text message that the field is full and that it is time to turn off the pump. If previously the farmer had not planned to go by the field for another 8 hrs. that would mean that they wasted 8 hrs. of unnecessary pumping time. If rain occurs the infield unit can also notify the farmer that the field has filled back up so that they don't have to make extra trips to check the field. The comment was made by all the farmers that they noticed less run off out of the field with the use of the infield unit.
Once the infield unit is placed in the field it initally makes the farmer conservation minded by letting them know that there is something out there monitoring the water level in the field to conserve water and pumping time. It has been the practice that it may take several adjustments to get the water level to the desired level for the field initially. This can bring about an initial uncalculated saving by not pumping a lot of water over the final levee from the beginning and setting the water level bar from the start.
For this study the following data was used to calculate savings. The following information is from the farmers.
Field Number Power unit Special conditions GPM pumped
1 John Deere 6059T poly pipe used 1550
2 6 cylinder Deutz 2200
3 John Deere 4D80 700
The pumping hours saved is calculated from the following formula:
Diesel per hour usage X pumping hrs. saved X cost of diesel fuel + the cost per hr. to operate a power unit = Total pump cost saved.
The fuel usage was supplied by the farmer and an average cost for diesel of $2.25 per gallon was used for this study. The gallons per minute (GPM) is from data that the farmer had on each well. The standard rate of $1.50/ hr was used for power unit operation expense. This includes the cost of unit, maintenance, replacement parts, and set up and travels to and from field location.
Infield unit Savings
field field size pump hr saved total $ saved Savings/acre Water gal savings Inch Acre savings
1 120 acre 48 $504 $4.20 4,464,000 1.37
2 118 acre 100 $623 $5.27 13,200,000 4.11
3 35 acre 32 $242 $6.92 1,344,000 1.41
Summary
All conservation efforts that conserve water will have a positive impact on the environment. One key important factor that must be evaluated in the future is there is currently no cost associated with the use of ground water. We all understand that our water level tables are diminishing and that we must take action now to ensure adequate water supplies for future generations. We feel that when a value is placed on ground water and that government requirements/support is supplied for infield monitoring units that it will enhance water conservation efforts. Per the study conducted above on the 3 fields the total water savings calculates to be 19,008,000 gallons.
We are currently looking for new participates in this water conservation project for the 2008 farm season. If you would like to participate in this FREE opportunity give us a call at 501-255-0919.
Water Watch - This information was obtained from the " El Dorado News Times" a town of a population of 23,000 in South Arkansas. Water use information is in gallons.
Avg. daily water use Nov.16 - Nov 22, 2005..........................5,858,857
Avg. daily water use Nov.17 - Nov 23, 2006..........................5,304,143
Avg. daily water use Nov.16 - Nov 22, 2007.........................5,217,000
The following information is from Paragould city light and water a town of 22,000 in northeast Arkansas.Monthly
Avg. daily water use 2005.................................3,223,667
Avg. daily water use 2006.................................3,142,583
Avg. daily water use 2007..................................3,127,818
