AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATION in Georgia

1
AGRICULTURAL IRRIGATIONin Georgia

• Types of systems and
• How we can improve their efficiency

2
All Irrigation Systems

• Number of Acres? (Depends on your source)
• Primarily Center Pivot Systems with Sprinklers,
  but we still have many travelling gun,
  drip/trickle, portable pipe and solid set systems
  
• Georgia already uses the most efficient
  irrigation systems available. However, we can do
  more!

3
Center Pivot and Lateral Move Systems

• Estimated to have over 8,000 systems averaging
  about 120 acres each - installed due to less
  labor and potential for efficient water
  application (71 of total irrigated acres).
  Efficiency Needs?

4
Center Pivot and Lateral Move Systems
5
Travelling Gun Systems

• Estimated to have over 3,600 systems which cover
  about 75 acres each - used because of less
  initial cost, field size/shape, but are labor
  intensive (covers 19 of total acres)
• Efficiency Needs?

6
Travelling Gun Systems
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Drip/Trickle Systems

• Estimated to have nearly 1200 systems which cover
  about 57 acres each - used because of efficiency
  on orchards (pecan, blueberry, ...), high value
  crops - vegetables for chemicals/nitrogen,
  (covers 5 of total acres) Management/Efficiency
  Needs?

8
Drip/Trickle Systems
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Solid Set Systems

• Estimated that there are over 1000 systems in
  Georgia which cover about 50 acres each - used on
  golf courses, athletic fields, vegetables,
  orchards, ... (covers 4 of total acres)
  Management/Efficiency Needs?

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Other Irrigation System Needs

• Irrigation Audit - determination of current
  efficiency - BEFORE making major changes
  (uniformity, leaks, )
• Irrigation Scheduling
• Education!
• Incentives!

Irrigation Conservation Practices Appropriate for
the Southeastern United States Edited by D. L.
Thomas Georgia DNR, EPD Geologic Survey Report 32