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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379206
Research Project: Improving Water Use Efficiency and Water Quality in Irrigated Agricultural Systems

Location: Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research

Title: Optimizing irrigation water

Author
item Lentz, Rodrick

Submitted to: Irrigation Today
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2020
Publication Date: 1/22/2021
Citation: Lentz, R.D. 2021. Optimizing irrigation water. Irrigation Today. 5(3):26-27.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: When applied properly, the synthetic organic polymer, polyacrylamide or PAM, can provide substantial water quality, infiltration, and water retention benefits to irrigated agriculture. To achieve peak performance, applications may need to be fine-tuned for individual circumstances. This article discusses how water-soluble PAM (WSPAM) and cross-linked PAM (XPAM) can be most effectively employed in irrigated agriculture. The form of WSPAM, method of application, and rate of application used in furrow irrigation will vary depending on local irrigation water quality and field soil properties. XPAM is comprised of WSPAM polymers cross-linked together to form a massive, porous product, which is not water soluble but can absorb >100+ times its weight in water. XPAM is added to soil to increase water retention and reduce water and nutrient leaching losses. Using XPAM in humid regions could be a challenge, since increased soil water retention during periods of surplus precipitation could create problems associated with excess water, slow soil drying/warming in spring, delayed tillage and planting. The use of XPAM in arid-land, irrigated agriculture may provide the most benefits because water deliveries to fields in these areas are intensively managed and can be limited or delayed.