Spray irrigation in the eastern states. Page: 1
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SPRAY IRRIGATION IN THE EASTERN
STATES
By GEORGE A. MITCHELL, Agent, and FREDERIC E. STAEBNER, Associate Drainage
Engineer, Bureau of Agricultural Engineering
CONTENTS
Page Page
Purpose of irrigation in the Eastern States --- 1 Installing the system .--__------------------ 16
Kinds of irrigation----------------------- 1 Cost of spray irrigation---------------------- 20
Types of spray-irrigation systems----------- 2 A typical small spray-irrigation system-______ 22
Water supplies ----------------------------- 4 Operation and upkeep- -------- --- 25
Planning a spray-irrigation system---------- 5 Profits from spray irrigation----------------- 26
PURPOSE OF IRRIGATION IN THE EASTERN STATES
THE GENERAL PURPOSE of irrigation in the humid region
is not, as it is in the arid region, to supply a normal deficiency
in the annual or seasonal rainfall of the locality; it is, rather, to insure
that sufficient moisture is always available when wanted, in
order that maximum profits may be obtained from crops under intensive
cultivation. In the Eastern States irrigation is most necessary
or profitable for crops that are costly to produce, have short
growing seasons, are quickly perishable when matured, and are
materially affected by short periods of deficient moisture. One hot,
dry period of 10 days or even less when strawberries are ripening,
when lettuce is heading, or when potato tubers are setting will
seriously damage or perhaps completely ruin the crop. The risk of
losing the value of the great amount of labor and the cost of fertilizer
necessarily expended upon special crops is greatly lessened by the
installation of an adequate irrigation plant. Another advantage enjoyed
by truck farmers who have spray-irrigation systems is the
ability to prepare land for planting at any time in the summer, and
to sprout seed in spite of dry weather.
KINDS OF IRRIGATION
There are three kinds of irrigation, according to the method of
applying the water to the plants. (1) Surface irrigation consists
in delivering the water over the surface of the ground by such methods
as running it down the furrows or by spreading it broadcast over the
tract to be irrigated. Either open ditches or pipe lines may be used
to deliver the water to convenient points for distribution.1 (2) Subirrigation
consists in delivering water to a porous stratum of soil at
proper depth, through which the moisture spreads to the plant roots.
To prevent excessive losses by downward percolation, the porous
stratum must be underlain by an impervious stratum at a rather
shallow and fairly uniform depth, and to prevent saturation of topsoil
where the plant roots should develop the ground surface must be
1 SURFACE IRRIGATION IN EASTERN STATES. U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bul. No. 1635.
37 p. Illus. 1930.
1
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Mitchell, George A. (George Andrews), 1868- & Staebner, F. E. Spray irrigation in the eastern states., book, 1935; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc5909/m1/3/: accessed April 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.