Getting Soaked by Water Costs?

Think Surge

If you have gated pipe irrigation or are thinking of installing some, here is an inexpensive, easy to operate addition to your system that can save you water, time, labor and money while reducing runoff, giving more uniformity and increasing production. Surge irrigation was developed in the desert climate of Israel – where water is really a premium. The method gets its name from the series of pulses or surges that are directed down crop furrows by a surge valve and automatic controller. The surges are alternated between two sets of furrows until the irrigation cycle is complete.
 

The surge valve is a simple aluminum tee with a single or double butterfly disc that is lightweight and easy to handle. Mounted on top of the tee is a controller that operates on storage batteries or solar cells. This controller has automatic programs or can be manually set. Surge valves are designed to switch water back and forth between two sets of furrows. Water runs alternately on each set during several timed intervals until the irrigation is complete. If an irrigator normally sets 50 rows on continuous flood, he would set 50 rows on each side of the surge valve giving a total of 100 rows being irrigated. Often, the surged water will cut down the irrigation time on a field by 25% to 40%.

Why surge works:  When water is diverted off one set, the furrow stream begins to soak in. Soil clods partially dissolve and settle to form a silty, slick surface. Clay particles present in the soil continue to swell even as the flow recedes. The effect is a reduced infiltration. With each succeeding “Off Time”, the    capillary attraction of the soil and water traps air that blocks the small pores of the surface soil and further slows down infiltration.

The Benefits: Irrigation with surge can save a grower up to one-third of the water. That translates into an energy savings of one-third, as well. Surge valves are easy to operate and require less labor than traditional flood irrigation. Surge reduces tail water as much as half. They provide more even penetration of water over the length of the field. It requires little maintenance.

Another added benefit and probably the most beneficial is a customized program allowing the producer to fertigate or chemigate during the soak cycles of any irrigation. This allows the producer to put on fertilizer when the crop needs it and in any number of applications. Surge irrigation reduces runoff and deep percolation reducing the chemicals carried into the groundwater.

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