AGRICULTURAL
ERING
nai of the gricultural Engineerstter at Benton Harbor, Mich.
William E Code 2 Colorado A & M College Fort Collins, COLO
?ebrury 1, 1944
A. W. Whitney
Secretixry, Chamber of Commerce 162 "orth College
Tort Collins, Colored° Dear gr. Whitney:
Attached is a short 1-enort b r„ -;ode, alonz with his mpoipts for expenses totalling MOS.
You will note the last parsdrroh indicates that this com-mitter-- of threP, of which Pleyd Armin is chairmen, did not dis-cuss location of the laboretory. Since both Utah and C*.liforv,ia alrelAy have the advantip OV.P Color-,do, We' feel it advisable to get the Western Directors to tree on a procs-am first, once
.orog.-am is agreed on which wAls for a considerable amount of rese'rch work which can best conducted in Colorado, we 'will thRn suggest to the GolorGdo Delwtion the possibilities. A Bill
orob;bly will nit be pr,=9entoo. to Conizreks right sway. Thkt, course, would be tro to some senior senGtor or congresquan of
these eleven wf,te'n states. 12o doubt Bill Mill's advice sho-ld be considered by yo'l or Alden.
Very truly yours,
:iliser J. ktonrey
Director, rxl)eriwnt Ste.tion hATE:c-r
cot President Gren Code e' 'Floyd Brown
ro
,3ubjectFrom
-Fort Coilins Chamber of Conelerce Memorsndum Concerning Resulte of USah, January. 20 end 21, 1944. W. E. Code, Irrisation 2ngineer,
Irrigation Mseting st Logan, Colorado ,.gricuitur.1
Experiment Station
By reason of funds appropriated by your body, I was saiected tie second delete from the Station to accompsny Floyd E. Brawn. Because of difficulty in arranging transportation SphCO, it was lecessars. to go to Logan vie D. el R. G. out of Denver January 18 ,nd return leaving Loan Janusry 22, thereby adding 2 extra clays to the trip end increasing the estimated expenses
This meeting was attended by representatives from Experiment Stations of all of the 11 Western states except Wyoming. it was called by director Clyde McKee of the Montana Station in consequence of a motion pussed at a previous meeting of directors of land grant colleges at Chicago.
irector McKee stated the object of the meeting as that of promoting a closer cooperation between federal agencies and etat e experiment stations, coordinating their efforts end eliminating unnecessary duplication of work. It was expected that the committee would formulate an irrigation research
program for the West, make recomnendations as to coordination between agencies and to indicate which ones could most effectively conduct such
research. Dean George D. Ciyde of Utah, tal; chosen chairman.
'Lech state was prepared with copies of reports on eork accomplished, present work and future needs in irrigation research. Each resresentative resorted verbally in summarized form on the first two items. From the experience of the group as a waole and, from similar endeavors in the pist, a logical srogisim of probles resuiring attention Was agreed upon. The major headings of this progress sere:
I. Soil s.nd irrigation relationships. II. Plant and irrigation relationships.
III. The irrigation water supply and its physical controls IV. Drainage and reclamation of water logged alkali and
over-flow lands.
V. Institutional irrigation and drainage relationships. VI. Social and economic aspects of irrigated agriculture.
A subcolemittee of three was appointed to draw up a set of
recomericiations .std findings to be presented to the 1.1 Western directors for consideration in further steps they elect to take. Theee reoom.sanda-tions were carefully phrased sad csnsiderod before final adoption. The
subject of an irrigation laboratory did not come up for discussion. Whether this will be considered later do ends on future development:is
Meeting of Representatives in Irrigation Research
from Experiment Stations of 11 western States at Logan, Utah Jan. 20 & a, 1944
Report of Attendance by W. E. Code
to Director H. J. Henney:
By reason of funds appropriated by the Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, I was selected as second delegate from the Station to accompany Floyd E. Brown. Because of difficulty in arranging
transportation space, it was necessary to go to Loan via D. & R. G. out of Denver January 18 ,:lad return leaving Logan January 221 thereby adding 2 extra days to the trip and increasing the estimated expense. Meetings began at 9;00 a.m. January 20 in the office of the Station Director, Utah Agricultural College, with all states represented except Trioming. Director McKee of Montana stated the object of the meeting: closer cooperation between federal bureaus and state experiment stations in irrigation research, coordinating their efforts and
eliminating unnecessary duplication of vork. (tuestioned as to the origination of the idea of calling this meeting, Director McKee replied that it was suggested by M. L. Nichols, Division of Research, Soil Conservation Service, that the coumittee formulate an irrigation re-search program for the riiest, mice receendations ae to coordination between agencies ind, which ones could most effectively conduct such research. Also, that tne findings of this committee be submitted to the western Directors at their April meeting in Berkeley. Director McKee then presided while a committee chairman was chosen. Dean
George D. Clyde of Utah was then elected.
The first order of business was a resume of accomplishments and ?resent work of each station. When this was completed, .iscussions began on a program of irrigation research. It was pointed out that a research program had been formulated by a conference of irrigation workers in experiment stations of the Western division of the Association of Land Grant Colleges in Berkeley September, 1925. On examination, this outline appeared .:it311 conceived and had guided much of the work since that time, hence it was decided to use it with modification and additions to fit changing emphasis. A copy of the new outline as agreed upon is attached.
Before the above outline was completed, a subcommittee composed of F. J. Veihmeyer (Calif.), Mark Kulp (Idaho) [.nd 0. W. Israelson (Utah) was appointed to drught a set of reconndations to be acted upon by the committee as a whole. These recoendations, .hieh were prepared for
submission to the Weatern Directors, were discussed, slightly revised and unanimously adopted as the findings of the representatives present. A copy is hereto attached.
Several interesting sidelights developed during the dis-cussions. Mark Kulp brought up the subject as to a definition of
irrigation research. It may be conceived of as starting with the use of water by the farmer but it was decided that although irrigation research cut through other fields, that the whole subject was so closely knitted together that the various related phases must be considered as parts of the whole. There wasn't any doubt in the minds of the group but ihat there was considerable overlapping of activities of various federal agencies concerned in one way or another with some phase of irrigated agriculture. Some of these agencies entered upon irrigation problems within a state without the knueleiige of the experiment station .r, eith-eut any formal or informal cooperative agreement. Some of the Stations felt as if their field of endeavor were being preempted and, that the work was carried on by operators well e.juipped financially but not so well equipped profeaeionelly as were the stations which eere unable to conduct more complete programs because of lack of funds. California particoldrily wished to have no part in any plan or scheme of centralized eethority that would tend to limit or invade their fields of endeavor. Director McKee further provided the information that a sum of $-20000, with no strings attached, W48 available to this committee for any further expenses or the committee in the preparation of their final report. A debate immediately arose as to the propriety of accepting such money. Some were rather suspicious as to the freedom of decision that such money might imply.
A dinner was given by the College on the Wth to which the delegates and certain faculty members were invited. The speakor was William Peterson, director emeritus of the Utah &xteneion Service and one of the granddaddies in western irrigation. He said that after 100 years at irrigation we had not solved all the problems, and cited a list of 8 aubjecte on which further knowledge was necessary. The subjects were: water supply, looses in natural channels, better water measurement to farmers, efficiency of stored water, soil moiatere, canal linings, recharge of ground waters and water ivality.
It being necessary to stay over an extra day because of train accommodations, some time was spent with 0. W. Israelson end C. W. Lauritzen discussing the lining of canals with highly impervious clays. They have done much work of this character and are continuing their field end laboratory investigations. Because of the low cost of such lining,
it is of much interest to our Section since normally we do not consider our waters of sufficient value to warrant the usual outlay of money to prevent seepage losses.
SUGGESTED CLASSIFICATION OF IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE RESEARCH
I - SOIL and IRRIGATION RELATIONSHIPS:
1. Water Holding capacity of soils as influenced by: (0 Texture, Structure and other soil properties.
(b) Depth to water table (c) Character of the subsoil (d) Chemical properties (0) Management
(f) Time of measurement (g) Character of colloid
2. Analysis of forces affecting soil moisture movement. (a) Driving forces
(b) Resisting forces.
3.
Conditions governing the application of water to the soil: (a) Topography(b) Permeability
(c) Type of crops grown (d) quality of water (e) Depth to water table
(f) Type of soil - (Texture, Structure, profile)
(g)
Condition of soil surface.(h) Availability (quantity, gravity supply, frequency of turns seasonal variation)
(i) Temperature
(j) Soil moisture at time of irrigation.
4.
Influence of application of water on soil characteristics. (a) Physical(b) Chemical (c) Biological
II - PLANT and IRRIGATION RELATIONSHIPS: 1. Moisture relations of plant:
(a) Availability of water to plants
(b) affect of method of application of water on the plant. (c) Influence of the water on the quality of the plants. (d) As it affects normal functions of plants.
2.
Moisture requirements of the plants: (a) For maximum yield(b) Economic yield
(c) Practical field requirements. (d) Indications of moisture need.
3.
111.4- urtrAtty—of- waU46.asitpairad per acre for economical irrigm44eft.TI
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e )Vi ."'""Q 114644;‘,6 4,4LJ :)12 eeJ4 4 k, earA-e
REPORT OF CONFERENCE OF IRRIGATIGN WORKERS IN THE EXPERMENT STATIONS OF THE WESTERN DIVISION,
ASSOCIATION OF LAND GRANT COLLEGES, held at
Berkeley, California September
3, 4, 5,
and 8, 1925.if2,9 Ao
/1 4 4 s
The Conference was called to order at 9:30 a.m. on September
3,
byFrank Adams, acting for Director E. D. Merrill of the California Agricultural Experiment Station. Adjourned at
5
p.m. September 8, after adopting the following Preamble and Recommendations:PREAIEBLE
To assure the complete agricultural development of the United States; to provide homes and food for our increasing population; to further the accessibility and utilization of the Vast timber, mining and grazing resources of the arid region; to assure the permanence of profitable
agriculture under irrigation; to assist in the coordination and strengthening of research work in irrigation and drainage, the conference of irrigation representatives recommends as follows:
RECOMKENDATIONS
1. That problems in reclamation and irrigation be approved as suitable for investigation under Purnell or other Federal Funds, and that these problems be designated, "The Factors Underlying the Economic Use of Water in Irrigation" and defined under five major divisions as presented in detail in a tabular statement attached hereto.
2. That we have studied, restated and regrouped into these five major divisions the subjects of irrigation and drainage research in the Experiment Stations of the western states.
3.
That we recommend to these Experiment Stations that they rewrite their irrigation and drainage research projects in accordance with this regrouping.
-2--4. That the Directors of these Experiment Stations be asked to state a. Whether they approve the restating and regrouping as
proposed by the Conference.
b. Whether the Experiment Stations are ready to rewrite their irrigation and drainage research projects in accordance with this regrouping.
5.
That if justified by the responses received by the Experiment Stations, Director Gillette appoint a chairman to lead in the coordination and cooperatior under each major division.6.
That if chairmen are appointed for each major division as suggested in5
above, these chairman shall together constitute a coordinating committee to which all irrigation and drainage research not covered by the classification adopted by the Conference shall be reported for placing in the classification.7.
That from time to time, probably not more frequently then biennially, further conferences of irrigation and drainage workers in the eleven western states will be called, and that in case future conferences are held, the call for the conferences shall include interested research agencies not directly connected with the State Experiment Stations.8. That we recognize the value of cooperation in irrigation and drainage research with interested Federal agencies, particularly the Division of
Agricultural Engineering, Bureau of Public Roads, and recommend that cooperation in irrigation and drainage research be both between the experiment stations of the several states and this and other interested Federal agencies. To this end we also urge that these Federal agencies come to agreement with the State Experiment Stations on the classification and wording of their irrigation and drainage research projects.
9.
Recognizing the importance of proper methods and standards inconducting and interpreting research in irrigation and drainage, we recommend the appointment of a standing committee on "Experimental Methods and Standard7, to be composed of three representatives from the western experiment stations and one representative from each cooperating Federal agency.
10. That due to the very important place irrigation has in maintaining profitable and permanent agriculture in the west, every experiment station of the western states be urged to conduct research of a basic character and of regional significance on one or more of the topics outlined by this conference.
FACTS UNDERLYING UNDERLYING THE ECONOMIC USE OF WATER IN IRRIGATION Suggested Classification of Irrigation and Drainage Research
I. Soil and irrigation relationships
1. Water holding cvacity of soils as influenced by (a) Texture, structure, and other soil properties (b) Depth to ground water
2. Analysis of farces affecting soil moisture movement (a) Driving forces
(b) Resisting forces
3.
Conditions governing the application of irrigation water (a) Soil and water properties(b) Topography and preparation of land
(c) Rate, duration, and frequency of water delivery (d) Crops grown
(e) Depth to ground water
(f) Storage of water in the soil (g) Cost of land, water, and labor
II. Plant and irrigation relationships. 1. The moisture relations of plants
(a) With reference to growth
(b) With reference to disturbance of normal functioning 2, The moisture requirements of plants
(a) For maximum yield (b) Economic
(c) or practical field requirements
-4, -•
III. The irrigation water supply and its physical control 1. The hydrology of arid regions
(a) Relation of precipitation to stream flow
(b) Ground water sources with special reference to average annual safe yield
(c) Seepage and return flow 2. Irrigation hydraulics
(a) Measurement of water (b) Conveyance of water
(c) Evaporation from water surfaces (d) Irrigation appliances and structures 3. Pumping for irrigation
(a) Equipment and power
Factors affecting the economy and efficiency of irriga-tion pumping equipment
Comparative economic tests of various types of power Community organization for power development
Community vs. individual pumping plants (b) Pumping from surface sources
(c) Pumping from ground water Sinking and equipping wells
Factors affecting the economic yield of wells (d) Economic limits of pumping lift
4.
Control of ground water including prevention of waterlogging and alkali injury.IV. Drainage and reclemation of waterlogged, alkali, and overflow lands 1. Methods of drainage and water control
2. Reclamation after drainage (a) Soil and water analyses
(b) Chemical, physical and organic treatMents (c) Leaching
(d) Tillage and cropping
-5-V. Institutional irrigation and drainage relationships
1. Irrigation and drainage laws, regulations and customs
2. Conservation of irrigation water through the merging and extension of irrigation works or enterprises having a common source of supply
3.
Organization and management of irrigation and drainage enterprises 4. Quantitative analysis of factors determining the feasibility ofirrigation and drainage projects
(a) Usual methods of determining feasibility Private
State Federal
(b) Adequacy of present methods
(c) Factors affecting value of land and water Physical
Economic Social Political
5.
Irrigation and drainage costsLi
/
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U.S.Laboralory N
1
Is Sought Here!
Local Irrigation Men Will
Attend Research Meeting
in Utah City
Agreement on a 10-year pro-gram of research in irrigation probably to include .4.he estab-lishment of a federal. irrigation research laboratory somewhere in the West (perhaps in the Fort Collins area' is the objective of a conference of experiment sta-tion representatives to be held in Logan, Utah, Jan. 20 arid 21. Among the experiment sta-tions which will send representa-tives to the conference is that of Colorado State college, it was revealed yesterday by Dr. Roy M. Green, college president, and Dr. Homer J. Henriey, station director. T h e representatives will include. Floyd E. Brown, as-sociate irrigation engineer, and probably Ralph L, Parshall, sen-ior irrigation engineer of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and one other man yet to be se-lected.
Aided by C of C
The Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce boar (*of directors, meeting Friday. voted funds to send a representative in addi-tion to Mr. Brown. Mr. Parshall may be instructed to attend as a federal representative, in which event a third representative from this community may be sent.
As a candidate for the location of the proposed irrigation labor-atory the Fort Collins area has a logical claim, Dr. Green point-ed out yesterday. This region is one of the most important ir-rigated areas in the country, par-ticularly with the awaited diver-sion of Western slope water through the Colorado -Big Thompson project, and research in irrigation has been carried .on
tories already established in-clude the Forest and Range ex-periment station here, the re-gional laboratory for research into industrial uses of farm by-products in California, a sheep research laboratory ,at DuBois, Idaho, and the hydMilics labor-atory established at 'CSC about 20 years ago.
Experiment stations in each of the 11 western states will be represented at the conference in Logan, site of Utah's agricultur-al college.
The 10-year program, together with the expected recommenda-tions for the irrigation labora-tory, will be submitted to the U. S. Department of Agriculture in Washington. The program is expected to include research on such irrigation problems as max-imum scientific use of wa t e r, economical distribution, subter-ranean flow and water levels and other problems peculiar to the various western states. Lo-cation of the laboratory is ex-pected to be decided in Con-gress.
CSC
Sending
er 41„..Specialists to
Water
Parley
Two irrigation specialists of Colorado State college will leave here Wednesday for Logan. 1
Utah, to attend a western region-al conference of federregion-al and state irrigation experts. The conference, to be held Thursday and Friday at Utah State col-lege, will seek to form a corre-lated irrigation program for the western states and discuss the location of a federal irrigation laboratory.
Floyd E. Brown. irrigation engineering specialist, and W. E. Code, associate- engineer in ground-water investigation, will attend the conference from here.
Director Homer J. Homey of the Colorado State college
Ex-periment station will leave this week-end for Albany, Calif., to attend a meeting of
experiment station directors. V arious re-search projects, including one for a proposed federal irrigation laboratory for which Fort Col-lins has been suggested as a possible site, will be discussed during the California meeting.
They will be joined in city by Robert Gardne college irrigation spec has been on a year's work at the federal 'sa periment station at R Calif.
Location of the propb
.gatipn laboratory at Fo 1: which for half a ce*Ottlry 'las been a center of ir
s
esearch, will be urged„. iree coil e represeiga ,:xpenses ''$1r. Code- 4 ;tr. Cig to th "conference wink e 'aid by the-For Collins
Cham-,,,.
un. of Commerce, while the coi-n
ge will Pay. the expenses of other two. 1.? at of A
IRRIGATION
CONFERENCE
OPENS' HERE
Dean Geo. D.
Clyde
Is Chairman of
Meetings
Close , cooperation between fed-eral bureaus and state experiment stations on irrigation research was discussed today as irrigation spe-cialists of the 11 western states continued their conference in Lo-gan.
George D. Clyde, dean of Utah State Agricultural college school of engineering and irrigation en-gineer for the Utah experiment station, is chairman of the
eon-. HERE'S MORE ABOUT
InRIGATION MEET
(Continued f:•om Page 1.) need further investigation:
Determining the amount of wa-ter available on wawa-tersheds for irrigation, a process which re- , quires records kept over many ; years; improving methods of mea-surinq water on farms and help-ing farmers to get the habit of measuring the water they use; finding out the types of soil re-quiring various quantities of wa-ter as a basis for irrigation meth-ods.
Curb Water Loss
Improving methods of halting water losses, both in main chan-nels and canals; developing more information on recharging water sources, with emphasis upon dan-gers of reversing normal flow df underground water; expanding knowledge of water composition, and giving more attention to water storage and more economical stor-age programs.
State specialists at the confer-ence, representing every western state experiment station except Wyoming's. are Dean Clyge and Dr. O. W. Israelsen of Utah; Pro-fessor H. S. Schwale of Arizoa:1, Professor F. J. Veihmeyer of Cali-fornia, F. E. Brown and W. i. ' Cody of Colorado, Professor George 0. Baker and Mark Kulp of Idaho, Clyde McKee and Pro-fessor 0. W. Monson of Montana, a.rd Mason of Nevada, Proh*-A. S. Curry of New Mexico, Prpfessor C. V. Ruzek of Oregon and Dr. H. P. Singleton of Wash-ington.
IN YOUR REPLY PLEASE REFER TO FILE No
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
BUREAU OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
DIVISION OF IRRIGATION
2ton-t-d-t.Pr 4"ti
K
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;
„4„A
„Zit"-C. S. „Zit"-C. Campus Memo
To Mir. Floyd Brown att: Messrs. CodeDate Dec.22,1943
ar3ITaLL, ) t,ra.Ije
Kezer, Romine and Burdick
The following may be used as a basis for your written report which you will submit at the conference as having been approved by all Station men here interested in irrigation research. As I understand it, this is to be an overall coordinated research program of a31 •,,,gencies in the eleven western states.
(1) Sivmzry of results of irrigation research completed by your station.
(2) Titles of irrigation research projects now in progress at your station with brief summary of any significant findings.
(3) List of important irrigation research problems that require taiediate attention, especially in connection with postwar adjustment in agriculture.
(4) List of irrigation research publications of your station, indicating those which are no longer available for distribution.
(5) List of agencies operating in your state which are participating in irrigation research or in the conservation of water resources of your state.
Since you are the official Station representative, I am lea 't up to ciu to get your committee together and prepare this report From
1
\\
C.S.C. Campus Memo
ee Professors etrate and CodeIv_ Date Nov.5,1943
The estern Directors met iith Nichols of the Soil C nservatien Service in Chicago. The directors voted thet a committee Aula meet in Salt Lake in mid—January to discuss irrigation research. Each station will appoint its own representative and naturally will have to bear his own expenses. Director cKee of leontana will write us in a few weeks as to the tiLe and place of meeting and ask for the name of our representative. We will have to decide whether we can afford to send one. It was leerned the-A a Federal Appropriations Subconeeittee is considering. the locttion of 'an irrigation research laboratory somewhere in the ;;est. President Green and
Dr. Lory are working on this now.
Tee hurried outline which you prepaxed was just about what I needed. The committee in bait Lake will take an outline prepared by each station and attempt to correlate all similar Otation outlines into one overall research program. This program, after approval by the directors perhaps at Albany in April, will then be given to the congressional delegations from all the western states. Pressure grous through chambers of commerce and farm organizations such as the bureau in California and Utah, the union in Colorado, Idaho, kontanal and nyomieAg, ana the grange in Oregon, -Nashington, aria Idaho, will then be given adaiti_nal facts in order to convince
Congress of this very worthy cause. It might be well for your r gation ,staff to have two or three sessions prior to the time in From
C. S. C. Campus Memo
Mr. Floyd Brown Jas.4,1944
To Date
Attached ir a summary of the research progrem of Utah State just sent to me by Walker.
This may help you, ati chairman of the Lo;an comalittees get your report ready before you leave here. I think it wns the intention of Dan Christensen timt professor Strata assist you in ;;repring this report so tht it will be in line with saaie of the thinking Dean Christensen and Dr. Lory say have had on the utilization of irrigation water at the time the Big Thompson project wovs started.
From
HiTH/1 Homer J. Henney, Lirector
cc: prof. Str:"..., -kr. Code
December U, 1946
Director Clyde McKee Agriculturel Experiment
Station
Montana &tate College Bozeman, Montana De=:,r Director McKee:
Since your recent correspondence would indicte that Mr. lialph Perhall, who hes been located tt thie station fS r a good meny yeere, would not be permitted to tttend
the meeting in Logan bee-eines he is now. on the federal payrSll, it ie the wish of our irrigation investigation comMittee thet both Mr. Floyd Brown and kr. Code attend the meeting. Mr. Brown will be the official representa-tive in cese of a vote of any. kind ee he ie on tn irrigation project which ties more directly into use of irrigation water than does Mr. Code's deep well project.
At the next meeting of the eleven-state committee I am hoping the directors will permit a full ano open discuesion by all etete end federal adency representetives who have been working in any way on irriwetion reseerch probleme. If the attendance of both Mr. Brown enc. Mr. Code at this meeting does not meet with your approval, as chairman of the western directore, pleaee let me know right away.
6incerely youre,
Homer J. fienney
Lirector, Experik,ent i-Aation HJH/1
CC: Director Walker
Prof. Strate att: Mr. Code"' Mr. Brown President Green
copy
December 14, 1.946
President Roy L. Green idministratin Building Campus
sear President Green:
The Director approves the attached rec,uest of Mr. brown to make this trip to Logan, Utah.
Since this trip is out of state and the Civil Engineering Section to which he is assigned does not have s'ation
special money, I am asking you for suggestions as to which is the best way to handle this.
(1) Should we try to get the Governor to a)orove tnis on out-of-ste'e trip on mill-levy funds?
C:() Should I ask the ,;,tat e joard to transfer to the Civil Engineering budget ,i,100.w from station k:decial funds?
(
ehould we ask erofessor Kezer to pay for tnis out of federal funds in nis buuget since this i%ork deals with a cooperative project between the Civil Engineering Section and the Agronomy Section?If none of the above three is desirable, then either mr. Romaine or Mr. Kezer would probably have to attend this meeting.
Sincerely yours,
Homer J. Henney
Director, Experient Station HJR/1
Enclosure
cc: Prof. Strate att: Mr. Code
Work of
The krizonig 4.,3ricultur4.1 6xperiment Station
in Irrilution aeseareh
a.nd
Problems 04, :=8,1 ote Concern to rizona in
Which Additio 4,1 itssearch is Uovied
Tucson, Arizona
JanuAry 12, 1944
BAZIMAITY 01
R3JLT OF IRRIGATION SMARM
CO?iDb fiT
Erz4,11A 7.1tkEkliAMT tiTATIO1
Since tha °stabil/hien% of the Itxperient station research in
irrigation, eovering a rather wide INAS* of subjects, has been
carried on under the direction of the Agrieultural Engineering
Department% (Irrigatieu Departrient). Bowever, mueb of the wor4 in
soilsimoieture relationship and the physiologioal response of
plants to irrigation treat:lat has been conducted, at leaet in
part, by the Agrieultural Chwaistry and Soils Department and the
Plant Industry De2artmeat, or as (*operative ,rojeets.
The earliest gublished work in this field
ism Oa
the winter
irrigation of deciduous ortharde and the results were partieularly
applieable to the period before reservoir storage was available.
The results showed that by *inter and early apring irrigation
suf-floient water eould
be
stored in the upper 20 feet or soil to meet
the water requirements, of about 21 inches, from Lareb to Novetv,ber.
During this period of normally short water supply no Irrigation
water was applied aad rainfall wag.; negligible. no trees, were main..
tained Ir exeellent conditiou arid heavy stop yields were obtained.
Early studies on th, duty of water in the Salt River Valley on
several different field crops *hewed that LaziAum yields were obtained
with water applleations as followss miles, 1.5 to 200 aerepofeet;
wheat, 2.0 to 24
aere-feet; cotton, 3.0 to 3.5 *crowfeet; and
alfalfa, 14 to 8.0 acre-feet; but with most iseonomisal yields with
the
woe of cpi?rozimately 6.0 aere-fes$40 Later studies with wheat
have shown ,4ed triers*** in yield, Isy means of irrigation at the
following stases of plant growth* (1) premirrigation, 8 inches;
(2) at •jointing, 3
ineheel (3) at heading, 6
inches; und at 6oft
do Ii, I ineheat. MOre resent work on the irrigation of cotton has
$1.own that the waintenanee of adequate meisture eenteat at all depths
up to the time of heaviest flowerifto with decreased maieture eoloP
tent during tens latter part of the eetta0M, has resulted in a
marked
increase in yields.
Intensive studiesvere made of the irrigation of young grapefruit
orchards OR the
inmia Mesa
and a detailed report of remits of the in
vestigatiess is given in, TeehRie41 Bulletin No, 37. The soil oz
which these investigations wee eonducted may be elassified ea I:, loamy
sand or sand and is stellar to thousands of acmes of the lend whieh
will be placed under irrigation upon tt..e 00up1etion of the Moe meon
unit of the Gila Projecti_which is now under
constructon by tl'le
i
Dureau of Reclamation. The wile have
Afield wAterwhelding 01:11,,ecity
of between 5 person% mad V percent and a permanent wilting, pereentage
of about 5
-,imiest•
The report deals largely with t%e eleilewwater
relationships, methods of 4pplieation, Annum*,
of Irrigetiou oz
soil temperature, eonsumptive use of inter by citru3 groves mad the
influenee of various irrigation preetices on the growth of trees
duriag v,,T, first 4 years in the field.
Investigations in the salt him. Valley have shown a consump..
tive use of water by washington naval oranges of approximately
2-1/2 acre-feet per year, and of •karsh grapefruit of about 3-1/2
acre-feet per year. ;uoils-water relationships, methods of
cation of
of irrigLtion water, uniformity of distribution and the
effect of Tar:Litton in irrication practice were included us a part
of tnis same study.
loottuce irrigation studies nave been made in tue salt River
Valley on the "aveen clay loam sell. This soil has u field
water-holding capacity of about 17 percent and a moisture equivalent
of
about 12
'meant. The studies were largely concerned with the
wails-water relationships, root development and the effect
or
various irrigation practices in commercial lettuce production.
The maintenance of a uniformly high moisture content throughout
the
growing season, at or near the field water-nolding capacity
or
the
soil, was found conducive to the vroduction of lettuce •heeds of
sexism weight, maximum umber of plants heading, maximum' solidarity
of heads, and
4minimal Of bursted beads. The more compact the
heads the less was the tendency toward bursting but the ;wore sus
ceptible it was to slime infection.
DiflIj
_I*iiL1iiliarliest publications on pumping
plants
for irrigation dealt
principally with engine-driv4n belt-cennected un1t3. The economics
of pump irrigl4tion, selection of types at engines, fuel
consump-tion, design of pumping units, and the adaptability to various
con-ditions were studied. At that time the work done by the Sxperiment
Station on fuel oils provided a mens by 'which farmers or furm organ
-tuitions zero uble to purc*nase full oils from different
souxces at
lowest cost. Standard specifications for fuel oil suitable
for use
in the oil engines
in
common use in the dtate were developed as the
result of fuel oil testing at the Station* For many years the
Sxperiment Ss.ation was the only agency in the State equipped
to do
this type of work.
Special studies were made of the characteristics of verioue
types
of pumps
ingeneral irriottion use--norizontal centrifugal, vertical
centrifugal, deep-well turbine
anpr000ller, and i4r-lift pampa.
The selection of the proper type and correct size of pump to
fit the
well has been given special attention.
The reinforced concrete cais*on well WL3 developed and many of
the first wells
or
this type were constructed under the immediate
supervision of
:stet: members.
With lisprovement in drilling nethos
and the use of large di
waster stovegpe casing, studies were directed
toward improved drilling methods, proper developing and eerforsting
of wells. vevoloping of wells by means of air lift, contInuous
pump-ing, surgpump-ing, the use of dry ice and with plungers of various types
have been included, special emphasis has been placed upon the testing
or
wells for the proper selection and
design
h
0 041 om
1
r
the *mew
of its nsa
n4
the
tmota lotions was gamed*
s1i4e4
of farm** tVansformer sub***tioa
*qui mot and the nettessai7 enfoty dart
ep*elol studies were el= 1,44e of the
eetrtsal or ins/gotten districts*
Invos
t. 3n
oomeat
raid.
o the
tho top
a
expans
T7tte deds A&co t
have ben
roportod upon
44
canstrnetion sothode in use und
in eorth canals as oompared with
lining, smRinemirtstg dosiC11 ,to
descriptloP; of oo*struotiot me
ri.ir.vo been preeanted*
tention has el.ao teen given to
irrI&t
ion water and the eonditions to
adopted,
baliabfamianialairjata
et
Oa
stu41.01 was the design
rezone for starting
trouble..free operation*
ration of quasimunIcipel
of noshInde
oa ;ipek limpso
'fiction losses
determined*
der external
ptfve •on wett ns
al °racking,
to differ..
norete lined ounals
tuaios of tile various
son of tielage 1o3sen
a. The ocoommy of *anal
flan' vtrueturen dotliled
oe te of *ono ruction
a tolls
thods or utth8
Oh they aa pertieuX rly
InUnsiv.
etudiez of groundwater eon
044
Rillito Volley and the 10,111.0r. olind .
*
Is
Other areao in whi
0t1 10** *stalled inves
ti
eurrve beve been nate imolai* the roll*
Creek.",
0 Lower 0116 River, Balrefore
Chino VA qv, ;Jun Simon Valley, Sulphur pH
V
the Upper
Swots Crux Talley*
in the
WAWA,
moo
alleyj (4gools
Dayid, Little
Let,
Preseotto emit
Theglennewater studies hove Included the determination of velocity
4sol3owit sources of reeborge, direction or underlie,' areal extent
groundwttlf ba5ins, t40 size
9P1041141 Yikad of the sclelfer,
the specific **posit, of wells and the interferon** between wells*
A, physlogre.phlo study of the areas this geol0S7 of the aeatribntthj
amities* Imaiu and espookaLly the Qoatormory geology of that portisa
of the basin in which the *ostler is found
In t
Rillito Valley p4Artioular use vas mad,
of the Sliehter
eleotrioal zethod for the determination of direation and velocity
of groundwater covatrAnte The r:;ault4 of these studios together
with a detailod and souplet* dsooription of the use of this raethod
under sonditions to *doh it was espooielly aAo4
are even in
.riz,edat Station Sulletin N. The groundwutar velocities of over
O foot per day found in this study uovo t
bigheat which
been rt*ortod at that Uwe.
The factual data *allotted in
inoludee logs of wellzo depths to
wals and qualities of water from
have beopme of incroaningly grtint
anago
LtA
t tsar j
ulatitiustia
the sours* of tiezse studies utieh
ratmr, drawdovit and eipseitiea of
ulmost every seetion of the Statei
value tc, ito citizens.
Stmdiea of surf*** voter supjy Ln Cochise County Where no Ames*
flow records were available sad* necessary the establishment of ten
stream gaging stations most of which were losated at the mouth of
mountain streams from the Chir&Onisfaitinataias. These stations
together with stations OR the isatairws favor and *Mit°
Cre
war* oporated by the Agrioulturel
thesr1L
14
,
41,40m41110
Reeordz of straw noway.
fundamental in say Otidy of surto*,
water 'applies as well as in most groundwvter investtletionso. Coghill*
County studio* required tho establishment of 4 misionm of tan strewn
aging stations In addition to tho station*a the Soots Cruz Rival
and killito Creek at Tucson Which had boa operatel by the Itzperieent
Statio* for many years. In additions assistance vas rondlorod the
U. S. Geologioal *arm in th* operation of their other stream gaging
stations in Southern Arizona, Sine* ig26. however, proOtimaIly 411
or tlIc stria.= giaging work La the 6vAs has Woos **nob,' tholUA, 3.
Geological Survey.
Reeharge to grouri4w,tor la nzny of the areas in this State is
4epondant to *
lare exteat ups 30epa,60 fro,* streak ehouriels und
therefore say stu7 of groundwater supplies involves a *way of
surface waters. 'Me correlation and interpretation at pare2111
atm=
flow kydroy!,rapbe of attliment stations OA *
motron bosomes an
important part of a groundwater IMO*
Mush consideration has boon gives to the roLotion of mar
to
rainfall in arcit3 under investigation. Results et resent *WI**
on the Ulmer Santt Cruz Valley have boon publishod in Teehaloal
Delotia No. 95* Th. aromas.% annual ratio of runoff to rainfall
on VI* Sontet Cruz dmiitoge bin above Tucaou was fOund to b* 0446 por4•
000.t, with a minimum value of 001 :Amount and a aniistim of 1.4
eent for the period I9.
,1941, inelusivo. The
naval ratio ot
runoff
to rainfall on Matto Creek varied from a Wail**
of
04011 poroont to
a asztage of 305
poreitat with an average ennual ratio of 1.4 percents
during the same period.
U.
T1i.-144.›
kRIGAll
mum
(Xre1t4et3
those Igespotis in WWI
irridation reosear
mAy be *moldered As only Aos Amite or the probl
PJ
CT 11
ILIPA4T41,1UTs
•4;',XEctiOILNIZ
010.71XT:
1900
reinstated Atuzt
1928
*rill
Co Sehmelent And 40 4
ett4y
of growaftster euPPliesio
TO fursibh u wand basis for the developmem
groundwater /applies for irritation pm:pesos'
t
are em4o of tbe losation end =twat at
IMISTground
*On
supplies, their sour**, rats of 00,iftent, natural
Outliot or disposition, rate of reehargo and Safe pulapip
Ina yield. Involved also are otutso
or the Speei tieyield of the soirees the quality
or
goiboter,
Va. 4rtttes
of Hillutii other methods of eoll,Aot
4wters1 the ontetion of well.* the
a of i
PALVInd4 4ad the 1swo owlet.
e use of41700Adwaters in Aolosuso
phasea of tbe work under this projeet
"sported in Arizon; Experioent Station
Noss 6.44 ft, 109, 112, 144, eat ?00isties1
Nos. 65, 1101 814
and 90,
ent34 **opiate* study of the safe ytoid
tors in the nor
lasinanots atmliftad
used, Wider the special aanditions
to this Aims, the safe yield wall deter.
,
the solution of simultantious oquAtions
thA
*Sitio yield of the aquifer, this
atria material" arid total pumps.* from
In c
wot%onthese
studies a vt unt of
4sts
/groundwater oenditionaoo the
Stet, have been aesemmlated. The files oo
several
thousands of well logs ancl the smaXylseg of groatiu
waters fram almost every motion of
the
stat. This
information has boon of iseetimable *value to the
people of this State.
PEAUSCT 1514
Mims
OPARTMSNTI
nRSONN31.1
TiTat
OBJSCTI
MOLTS:
PitOJXT 113t
FUNDS*
DVAIIMANTI
PSRSONNSLi
TITZ.Es
OBJEZTI
RZbULTSt
Authorize4 July
I1920.
Adams
Agricultural ;414gineorir4
4. C. uchwulan
The relation Lketikeen evaporation rate and the duty of
wator in irrigation.
To obtain i4 basis for determiniug the ?raptir duty
of salter under various condition* of altitude act clisats,
Class A type *ether Bureau dtations were installed
and 14,intalned in the
it lily**. Valley, Yuma Valley,
and in thy' Sulphur Spriug Vulley. At the time these
records ware started evaporation records ware
;Tac-tically nonexistent in tae agriculturul districts
of the State. Almost uogligible funds 'nave been
allocated to this project but the fundunental auta
*soured are of vulue for all p4usss of ugricultural
tesoarch.
A $ummary of the records wus Aalished in the Sist
Annual Report of tile 4,ritonu kqiperiment z'yttion. (14O)
Autilorised Uarch, 126 iievised July, 1.1.2$
Purnell and bnsta
Agronomy and liureau of Plant Industry, Soils end
Agricultural i.ngineoring.
F. S, Aswkins and Karl Harris
%;atton production us af:acted by soil environment.
To ueteralne the extent to v4icit soil environment
influences the character and production of cotton
lint, .nd to effect, if ,Iassible, lapro,Smants in
the quolity of tale lint of our irrigatod cotton.
Trio rssults of seven yetrs or irrigation 9iperiments
have shn
conclusively t:zet •adv'‘nLage of sttaulatod
rrApiL. growth of cotton u to the period of neavy
flavoring by
M04113of early applic4tions of irrigu
tion sater und
plontiful supply. Tho increi4sed
yields resulting from this senedula of irrigation
tr.a.taont has caused a radical departure from the
previously accepted sc!,edule of irrigtion practice
for cotton in this Stale.
PlialTSCT
ANDO
IMMO
1221414
Ira
RWILTBS
'SWAM
Sl$4
MUSS
IMPARTMATI
PIRSONDIX6$
211114
OBJECT
Authorize*
Sevised 1L.
Purnell
Avieulturdl Chemistry
0* To MeGeorge emit To F, Bushr4p
Studios cm %oil structure ao influeme&'. by physieal
obszastoristten *ad moleture relations*
The study of the pert *deb soil struottars Asps in
ors,
produotioa under Irvisatood coa,Ations an4 the
Phrasal proper Ise of the
Oen
as larluenced by
es*
Physieel sod *Mated olta4lo* of tittorsatly modltiod
struetwes are
WAS
sods. SWIM physical sanstants
as plestleity, vapor
proSsUr44
egirogationgl moistur*
oquiv*Isat, freesias point,
ett4
the
11441~11111nt of
the amount of water *doh tromps loy
WOW
4,1 the
dilatometer are being studied. RelAtiod ehAelea
studios are being made. Close of tato results kayo
beak imoorporatog in Teehaleel Bulletins $10.0 30
VP, 4114
and 10040
Aathorizoi August, 193041
Purnell
Asrisultural Mastmooring
46 14 P. Smith emA tatii
Booher*
Water supply forseasting sad needed roat
adjuzit-onts
in irrigated esriculturo airing *youth smiths*
To increase to the fullest extent
tLe
(mowed* return*
ot mot
satr *o is ev*ilable by
movie of
individual
sod ommnity
p
beset
on hydrologic studies
and
annovoliseil lust_ ,
the beginning I' planting
11106001 II
RiWiSh
and September*
Based vie, taw usual
diversification
of crepe and a
study of aostay **tor require:
4=w in the
04su
Gr4.nde
val1417, the recommendation WAS
AS40tt.: the fermtkre
of
the Saa
Carlos Vrojeet that only 415 pones% et the
crop acreage in that project be ploatod in INC.
In 1941 speolal stwitio* et ea altitude of 0000 feet
showed that the oraporstioa tram snow saver during
Albroary on4 Marsh *a* approzitzatoly
ono
itAb vett
.4*
OMOVVOT Sift
MOM
SIPARTT;
roxistni
norm
OBJECT;
R3SULTLIt
OMOJELT
NOM
PaiK.0114
?Mai
OMJCT:
MULTI,
PWT
$39a
WNW,
WaT4XT1
inalLOUNviL4
neon
OBI
'Ant
IINSULTS2
PiKii147: 1421
NUM
LWARTAtiltere
TITLII
OSiTiVrt
RLZULTS:
io
•
n
A4Seed prodmation of fore,.
8241
.
00410 40101000i4117
Pa
species for
1130in humid regions tad eater irr
To ascertain tto proper swamis of graving sat headline
greases for the production of soot and for Winsasing
VW
parity 4114 iterminotion of tke soot produe040
bridestleo phases of tilts study kayo not been started.
Amthoriset A-Dril, 1948
Amen
e.';‘1 btate
iirtieulture
Ws W. tones and A. H,
lineh
A
study of Wm nutritionzA &ad ihysiological titotors
affectift the growth of citrus trees, tuld the told,
quality mad mataratioa ‘4r the fruit.
TO totermlno the influeles Of variation in tiva of
irrigation, intervat between application of water and
Melhods of irrigation upou the yield, quality amd
Maturity of citrus frui,4, (Other phases of the pro let
*re not *smoldered harop
Studios On the irrigation work on this project are now
Just being itusitod*
Authorised /February, 1943
Bankbeetofonos
AersmOMV
24 holism
Smith
Soil apiaturop heredity, and elimmtie rafters Westing
400d setting, quality of 30td protusod, mftd *Matte*
reeisteaeo of sky banns,
TO determine the of
foot of different irriptien treat..
meats, heredity and olikatio factors, (elevatien, humidity
tato of planting) upon (1) the ability
or
tLs soy been
to. Sot Seed, (2) quality of seed rroduoed, and (3) shatter
resistance of sey hems.
Pro
jest Just started*
Authorised Nigh 1048
Purnell
-44111
A.vivo and R.
8,
Smetine
lb.
ottoot of environmental conditions and „Aooduotioa
mothOds on the yield eat quality of oar
***do
(1)
Iho determine the most offeetive methods of prozwine
hish, yields of glum lost
Irrigation,
(2)
Mitermine
the offset of 4i/foment mothodo of yroduetion on **ad wduaity*
Projeet just started*
0/ IRRIGATIOS MIAAtli PROBIA248
I. rpottorninstioa of the relation between length of runt size
of irrigation Mad and slop* trt 1,%nd, and that adequacy and
ualf(4r4ty of application of water to various soils*
11011,019Vioant in irrigation efficior.oy by more oottplete
land preparottas and its 00000-mie liaitationo.
8* Tt,
vtauo of wiator irrigation on heavy loporvious soils
as
- 431 'Iv. of storing enter for imsomer WO.
4* Detemination of eater requirements of various 'rope for
the itozt ofti ifolt use
or
water,
5 Continuation of groundwater inveatigations with particular
riorweft00 to th* determintflott of tLo sec yield of
ground-water areas of diffsretit goolodic charaotor*
6. Correlation of snow surveys and noteselogiota &at& with
rutwff*
9* Intention and rsolumstioa And Aram,
of alkali lands*
Me41404 oenstruction 4D4 economics of sells and irrigation
penpias equipment*
IT. LIST 01/' UNIVIS;ATY
or
(*
Out of print)
94.1124,111.2:11.1allt
CAT1ON:3 -ER,A11190
GATION
4140,3* Irrigation La Arizona* 1891
'4* viatmig awl Water Awards* 1891
*6* Sollo and Waters* 189A
*11* Pumping tor IrriGatioa
Agricultural Development in
South-witstern Arizona* 1895
*370 Winter Irrigation of Peoidoeu% Orehards, 1901
*41* Irrigation at the Station nal. 100$
!444# Utilising Our Water s
1904
1'44* TN,
Miter Irrigatini
tope of Arizona ... Thyir Charsator end
lerests* 1902
40 The ttadergrovind Voters of Arlsona •• Their C.!-:..cter And Use.
19044
*404 coat of
for Irrigatiatip 1904
*53, Irrisotien
•
iment3 aad Their Wrests Upon Crops* 1900
1554. Cement Pipe for Small Irrigstift WOW**
and Other Pli
401507
:Ps
Irrisation sad Airieultural Pirsetlee in AVISORA# 1911
4144, oremadmater Supply and Irrigation in the Rillito Tilley* 1910
*91* Gadkoline
in.
Troubles and the Care and Operation of
Gaselimo Anginas. 1113
*74, Oil ligiaos for Pump Irrigation and the Cost of Pumping, 1915
Si* kitek1ii4014ade Ccpimt Pipe for Irrigation and Other Purpose**
1918
*119.
*9S.
97.
99.
101*
*112.
*1144
120.
123*
124.
133.
144.
151.
153.
181.
Use and Waste of Irrigation Water, 1929
The Supply, the Pries and the Otality
of lua Oils ray
Pump Irrigation* 1920
The DO*Ign and Construction of 411
Conerste Lined
Canals* 1923
Motor Driven Irrigation lowing Plants and
the Elostrieal
District. 1924
Use and Waste
or
Irrigation Water. 1925
The Stovepipe or CulifornISMStabo4 of Well
Drilline. 1925
Obaraotor of tho ;:iroundwatar Reeourees of Aria**44
1926
The Us* and Duty or
Water in
the Salt River Utley. 1927
Alkal
U
Stue.lea
sad *Mods
at
SaolumAtion. 1928
Citrus OblOrosis as Arrasted by
Irrigation
and Fertlli-
or
Trostaists• 1102$
Lettuce Irrigation Studies*
IOW
The Finume141 Rehabilitation of Irrigation
*rad Drains,*
Districts. 1933
Irrizazion Xxperimauts with WbOat. 19Z5
Usa ‘if Water by Vfashington
*oval
Oranges ,,nd
Ihrsk
Oros*.
fruit Truro Lu tl'ie Salt Sim*
AriMM. 1930
Irrigation loquirements of Cotton on Clay
Loan Sells
in the Sat
River Valleys 1942
UmbIlmia#111110ai
$4.
A,
SSW
Or Colorado Elver Silt. 1924
*250 Pleat and Soil Relations at wad Below
the Wilting
ftromatall44
trn
!<!elntenenco t Maisture•Iguilibriun
and attrition or Moto
Below thoi1ti Pereentago. 1950
Studies in Lettuce Seedbad Irrigation Iladeraigb
Timperature
Conditions. 1931
Irrigation Investigations in Youn4, cirapfruit
Orcherds on
the Yuma Zama. 1931
The Moveront of Gases Th
la the Soil as
4Criterion of
Soil Strueture. 1932
Groundwater Law in Arizona
Studios on Soil Strueturet
of PuddIed *oils. 1937
Studies on Soil Structure:
in Paddled Soils. 1937
Studies on Gail Structural
Plant Growth* 1958
Tte Altysiosraphy or Arizona Tallq” aaa the
Occurrencrl, of
Oroundwittar. 1938
7,e OrowSiatter S'upply of tbo :Cloy District
in Pin4,1
Couty
Arise**, 1940
Lanus:WOW Colorado River 311% on some
Pr000rtl
of
TAM
Wes
600
boil* 1941
INInfoll *ad
Sunoff in the Upper Suntc; Cruz River Drainage
Basta. 1942
Bound liter in Normal und Paddled jails.
1943
*214
33.
37.
39*
e50
*67*
$9*
72.
77.
87,
91*
95*
100*
and N.ihborizi States. 193$
8ome Physical Churaete i ties
3om. Nitrogen Transformations
Effect of
Pu44lo4
Soil on
The accompanying
aecompanyin published List of Available ,
:'ublic'c4tions
includes the annual reports of the lai)eriment Station,
exten-sion circulars, and reprints of articles written by staff
members and published by other agencies.
V.
LIST OF AGENCIES OPERATING IN ARIZONA WHICH ART PARTICIPATING
IN IRRIGATION RESEARCH OR IN THE CONSERVATION OF WATM R7SOURCES
1.
Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arizona.
2, State Land and Water Commissioner's Office.
3. Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering,
4. Soil Conservation Service.
5. Agricultural Adjustment Administration.
6. U. S. Geological Survey.
7. U. S. Bureau of Reclamation
8. Farm Security Administration (Water Facilities).
Submitted 11:,
H. C. Schwalen
Associate Agricultural Engineer
APPROVED:
G. E. P. Smith,
Head
A Re)ort On
Utah Agricultural Experiment Station Irrigation and Drainage Research
together with a statement of Utah Irrigation a-si Drainage Problems
concerning which research is needed
Logan, Utah January 1, 1944
-1-1. SUMMARY OF RESULTS OF IRRIGATION R2EARCH
Reseexch in irrigation was provided for almost immediately after the Sttltion was created. Administrative and research officers of this Station at the beginning recognized the basic importance of irrigation to Utah agriculture. The Pioneer Work
Among the topics considered by the pioneer research workers are the following: (1) natural water for irrigation; (2) early vs late irrigation; (3) amounts of water required and its relation to crop yield, percolation, ani
soil fertility; (4) seepage waters and the ualerflow of rivers; (5) time and frequency of irrigation;
(6)
orchard and vineyard irrigation; and (7)water-sunny studies and canal capncitics.
During the first ten years of research activity, irrigation studies were reported in numerous bulletins. Some of the topics which were given preliminary consideration have been studied further during recent years. Plans for the early research were carefully made and the work .one constituted an excellent
beginfling
i
-Intensive Irrigation Studies
Intensive irrigation studies relating particularly to soil and plant relationships were conducted by the Station beginning about ten years after its organization. These studies demonstrated striking possibilities of irrigation imiirovemnt in Utah. Particular attention was given to the influence of the
auantity of water on the quality of the crop grown and it was found that, invariably, conservative irrigation nroduced crops of the highest quality.
Comprehensive study was also made of the movement of water in soils and of the depth of penetration of different amounts of irrigation water. It was found that large proportions of the natural precipitation are stored in deep, retentive soils; that excessive irrigation results in losses through deep percolation; that rater moves slowly in soil under the force of capillarity and that as the amount of water becomes less the rate of movement is retarded.
Methods of conserving water following irrigation, with se)ecial reference to cultivation and the -orevention of evaporation losses, were given thorough and painstaking experimental study.
Water Application and Crop Yield
Probably the greatest single contribution of these intensive irrigation studies was the establishment of relationships between the amount of water applied and the crop yield now commonly represented graphically by a curve "mown as the yield-iwater curve. There are, of course, variations in yield from season to
season even with the same amounts of irrigation water, but, despite these seasonal differences, the averages are significant.
It is noteworthy, for instance, that the loam soils of the Greenvillo farm, which are highly retentive of the natilrel precipitation, produced 120 bushels of potatoes and.
3.5
tons of alfalfa per acre without any irrigation water. The potato yields increased rapidly as water was increased up to 1.5 acre-foot and more slowly•
for larger amounts up to 3.0 acre-feet nor acre. An increase of eretcr from 2.0 to 13.0 acre-feet produced an increase of only 20 bushels per acre. Amounts of water in excess of three acre-feet caused a marked decrease in potato yields, and, under the conditions of the experiments, are therefore clearly wasteful.
Alfalfa yields, on the average, increased slowly as the amounts of irriga-tion water were increased up to 3.0 acre-feet. Amounts in excess of 3.0 acre feet, in the deep, well-drained soils of the Greenville farm, caused neither increase nor decrease in the yield of alfalfa.
Irrigation Methods
Beginning a quarter century after the Station was established, attention was given to n study of irrigation methods and their relation to efficient
irrigation practices. The first step in this phase of research was a more compre-hensive end detailed study of the ca-)acities of soils for irrigation water. The Station found that few, if my, soils under ordinary practice could absorb more than 1.5 inches depth of water per foot depth of soil. It was also found that
usually much smaller quantities were retained, and that the coarse-textured, shallow bench lands of Utah usually sustain heavy deep-percolation losses because of the fact that the amounts of water applied exceed the capacity of the soil for water.
It was found also that long irrigation runs and small streams applied to coarse-textured soils result in low irrigation efficiencies because of excessive losses near the supply ditches. On the other hand, streams of proper size applied to the correct land areas result in more uniform distribution of moisture in the productive soil and a minimum of loss into the gravelly sub-soil.
Snow Surveys and Irrigation
About 20 years ago the Station began active and intensive work in snow-survey research. At that time, only one agricultural experiment station in the West had conducted research in this important field. Water-supply forecasts for imnortant Utah streams are now made each year on the basis of Station snow-survey measurements. These forecasts enable irrigation companies to plan their seasonal water distribution activities intelligently. They also give irrigation farmers a sound basis for selecting the crops and planting in harmony with available water supplies. Farmers no longer plant late-season crops that require large amounts of water in July and August only to find that because of water shortages Which they calla not foresee, their crooe are doomed to failure. Moreover, farmers can now select proper acreages of crops, as well as kinds of varieties, according to the water-supply conditions from year to year. The value of this type of research to agriculture is now nationally recognized and several agricultural experiment stations, together with the Federal Department of Agriculture, are now conducting research in this field.
2. IRRIGATION RESEARCH PROJECTS NOV IN PROGRESS AND A BRIEF SU-MI-LARY OF FINDINGS
PROJECT 72: FWD:
TITLE:
OBJECTS:
Authorized Septamber, 1925
Purnell and Soil Conservation Service
Relationship of stream discharge to precipitation with special reference to forecasting the supply of water for irrigation from seasonal surveys of snow cover on mountain watersheds.
The object of this experiment is to determine the basic principles underlying the relationship between the precipitation on the
IZADER: RESULTS: PHOJ ,CT 151: FUIT: TITLE: 0-3JECTS: LEADER: nESTITS: PACjECT 168: FUND: TITLE: OEJ-_,CTS: LEADER: H7SULTS:
-3-and to establish for each drainage area the precipitation runoff relations so that the streaea discharge can be forecast upon the basis of measurament of precipitation.
George D. Cly(:,e.
The results of this project have been to establish the basic snaw-cover-runoff relationship on the principle watersheds of Utah, for forecasting the seasonal April-September and July-September runoff from the streams.
Authorized 1:ay, 1934
Purnell and Soil Conservation Service.
:ater-application efficiencies in irrigation and their relation to irrigation methods.
1. To make a survey of irrigation conditions, practices, and methods in Salt Lake and Utah Counties on lands su,plied with irrigaLion water from Utah Lake.
2. To make intensive studies of water-application efficiencies and their relation to irrigation methods.
O. W. Israelsen.
Surveys: During the seasons of
1934
and1935,
efforts were con-centrated on objective number 1 -- Surveys of irrigated lands. All of the lands provided water from Utah Lake and Jordan Riverin Salt Lake County were included in the surveys; the gross area being 87,366 acres and the irriEated area being 47,711 acres. A detailed report, including many tables and figures, vas completed in
1935.
A resume v:as published in the 20th Biennial Report of the State Engineer.
During the years 1937-40 surveys were made of the lands of the Utah Lake Drainage Aree including lends in Utah, Wasatch, and Summit Counties which cre.p17ovided water.by 77 mutual irrigation companies an4 Nr many indiviclual water-rient amers, the gross area being le2,123 acres and the net irrigated area 107,868 acres. A detailed report WaS issued in December 1940 which includes 173 type pages, 28 tc.bles, 4 plates, 4 figures, 8 appendices and 2 master maps. Fifteen cooies of this report have been printed on ozalid paper, bound, and distributed to agencies interested.
':ater-application efficienc-: studies were conducted on 14 farms in Utah County during the years 1937-40 Pnd in Salt Lake County in 1941. The results of these studios, which show averaE:e efficiencies la-Nor than 50 percent, arc now in process of publication by the Experiment Station.
Authorized October, 1934 Adams.
The epplication of hydromechanics to thc design of structures for controlling ground water.
1. To study the design of well netrorks.
2. To devise equipment :'or measuring capillary potential and cqpillary flow.
'allerd Gardner.
This project was planned primarily rs a study of thc aspects of ground water movement. The lands in meny Cache Valley aro waterlogged as the result of upward
theoretical parts of
