Innovative Technologies for Water Conservation in Flood Irrigation Systems

Despite technological advances, flood irrigation systems are still in use in many parts of the U.S. According to the Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey, flood irrigation accounts for 33% of all irrigated lands and 43% of total irrigation water applications in the U.S. However, only 10% of federal financial assistance for irrigation best management practices has been dedicated to flood irrigation. The goal of this project is to evaluate, demonstrate, and transfer innovative technologies that can result in water conservation in flood systems by conducting coordinated extension activities among partners from southern to western U.S. The perception of producers and the sociocultural factors that influence their acceptance of conservation technologies will also be evaluated to increase the likelihood of adoption. The project has four specific objectives: i) to evaluate the social dimensions of adopting conservation technologies; and, to evaluate and transfer effective and affordable conservation technologies and management practices related to ii) water delivery (e.g. canal automation); iii) water use (e.g. sensor-based irrigation scheduling) and iv) water removal (e.g., tailwater recovery and reuse) components of flood systems.