The Cross Section, Volume 20, Number 2, February 1974 Page: 4
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Texas State Publications and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THE CROSS SECTION
With the advent of shortages on the
farm, both real and anticipated, new
methods of irrigation are gaining
popularity in an effort to conserve
water, fuel and man-hours.
A few of these methods, drip irriga-
tion and subsurface irrigation, have
been the subject of some experiments
to automate them by researchers in
Texas and Colorado.*
Drip irrigation systems, closed pipe
systems, are easily automated by the
use of soil moisture sensors or switch-
ing tensiometers. Considering the fact
that irrigation on the High Plains is
most often used to supplement rainfall,
soil moisture sensors have been found
to coordinate the use of erratic rainfall
and irrigation water more efficiently.
Tensiometer Device
A tensiometer is a device set in the
ground which records the soil moisture
and can be made to automatically send
a signal that the soil is adequately
saturated to a pre-determined point.
This checking device allows more
efficient use of available water and
provides for adequate irrigation of a
crop to prevent stress and still retain
dry zones in the soil profile in which
rainfall can be stored.
According to Otto Wilke, Agricul-
tural Engineer, Texas Agricultural Ex-
periment Station, Lubbock, four types
of irrigation were tested for total waterapplied and total water used by the
crop.
Under sprinkler irrigation, 10.05
inches were applied and 11.53 inches
used. Fifteen inches of water were
applied on a furrow-irrigated plot and
12.03 inches were consumed. A sub-
irrigated plot received 8.10 inches and
used 11.33 inches.
Finally, an automated subirrigated
plot needed only 5.19 inches of irriga-
tion water and used 10 inches of total
water, drawing the other 4.81 inches
from rainfall.
May Expand Research
Wilke said this research may be ex-
panded to apply automation by ten-
siometer controls to circular sprinkler
systems. In this case, the tensiometer
could automate the sprinkler by limit-
ing the number of circles the system
would make during a given period of
time, the time one rotation would take,
the amount of water to be applied
during each circle and the amount of
delay between waterings.
*A method of automating drip and subsur-
face irrigation was designed and operated
by Charles Wendt, Soil Physicist, Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station, Lubbock;
H. P. Harbert, III, Graduate Assistant,
Colorado State University, Fort Collins,
Colorado; W. Bausch, Research Associate,
Texas A & M University Vegetable Re-
search Station, Munday, and Otto Wilke,
Agricultural Engineer, Texas Agricultural
Fxperiment StationAUTOMATION DEVICES STUDIED
STATE... continued from page 3
are to provide for the spacing of wells
-a procedure for avoiding interfer-
ence between wells, the observation
well program and public education.
Public Education Important
"The most important function of
our water districts is to educate the
public of the rate of decline of the
water table, the problems associated
with such a decline, and the proce-
dures recommended by which to con-
serve the water which remains," Ryals
emphasized.
Joining Commissioner White in pre-
senting addresses to the group were
General James M. Rose, Director,
Division of Planning Coordination,
Office of the Governor; Senator H. J.
Blanchard, Chairman, West Texas
W a t e r Resources Study Council;
Wayne Wyatt, Chief, Groundwater
Data Branch, Texas Water Develop-
ment Board; Dr. James E. Osborn,
Assistant Dean of Agriculture, Texas
Tech University; John C. Ball, Chief,
Planning Branch, Corps of Engineers;
James Bradley, Regional Administra-
tor, Bureau of Reclamation, and Har-
vey Davis, Executive Director, Texas
Soil and Water Conservation Board.
Legislators present were Blanchard,
Representative E. L. Short, Tahoka;
Representative R. B. McAlister, Lub-
bock; Representative Bill Clayton,
Springlake, and Representative Charles
Finnell, Holday,/ L.,:
K
.aTAILWATER REUSE
Is
EN ERGY CONSERVATION
INVEST IN A TAILWATER
RETURN SYSTEM TODAYArea Conservationist
Promoted to SCS Post
Ariwal Scott, Area Conservationist
with I he Soil Conservation Service
(SCSE at Lubbock since 1968, has
been promoted to serve the SCS as
Assistant Director of Conservation in
the C4-ribbean. His territory will in-
clude Puerto Rico and the Virgin
Island%,
His transfer effective February 14,
Scott paid he will remain in Puerto
Rico fLir at least two years. He will
reside in San Juan.
While in the Caribbean, the conser-
vationist will aim his efforts toward
achieving more effective resource de-
velopment, conservation and water-
shed programs in the area.
An SCS employee for 17 years,
Scott in past President of the South
Plains Chapter of the Soil Conserva-
tion Scviety of America and a member
of the West Texas Water Institute and
Water. Inc.
As &' press time for The Cross Sec-
tion, Scott's replacement had not been
named.
The Water District extends to Ar-
neal ci congratulations on his new assign-
ment d good luck% in all his en-
doaos.TO.6L SVX31 'o300881
133HIS H1N33.Ui 8Z9T
T 'ON iDtalSIG NOI1VAN3SNOD
U131VM GNflOND30Nfl SNIVId HDIHlInd3d SSVlO GN033S
I
Page 4
February, 1974
I
ar r. a
i
y
Lm
Of -0
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View four pages within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 (Tex.). The Cross Section, Volume 20, Number 2, February 1974, periodical, February 1974; Lubbock, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1532987/m1/4/?q=%22~1%22~1&rotate=180: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.