It
is a good time to reflect on how things went last year and what
improvements can be made to the irrigation operation. Remember to
work with your seed supply agronomist and other advisors to get
hybrids that perform well under irrigation. Particular attention
should be given to disease resistance and other factors that can
be affected by the ability to keep the crop ecosystem moister.
Think about utilizing
your irrigation system for improving the performance of your soil-applied
herbicide. Irrigation systems are ideal for synchronizing weed seed
germination and herbicide activity. An irrigation of 0.75"
within a day or so of herbicide application will do a good job of
improving herbicide performance.
Adopt an irrigation-scheduling
plan. The key here is to have a plan, any plan. The most important
times of the irrigation season are the early vegetative growth period
when it is important not to over-irrigate the crop and the reproductive
period when it is important not to under-irrigate.
Irrigation scheduling
can be as simple as a checkbook method, visual observation of soil
moisture or as complex as an electronic feedback system utilizing
soil moisture measurements. Be alert for technological innovation.
Irrigation management requires skilled operators with current information.
Make plans to increase your level of expertise in the upcoming year.
