Irrigation

Design your irrigation system as you plan your field layout and planting strategy. The main irrigation trunk lines will need to be buried in the field, usually along roads, with the valves located at convenient intervals. Remember to plan for a method of draining irrigation lines to avoid damage caused by winter freezing. Also, leave space for a traveling gun to move across a field if you think you will be using this type of irrigation system.

Adequate water supply is, of course, essential. Generally, at least 1 acre inch (approximately 27,000 gallons) of water is applied with each overhead irrigation. If water quantity is limited, consider drip irrigation because it uses water efficiently. With drip irrigation, water is applied directly to the soil surface gradually over extended periods of time (for example. 1.0, 2.0 or 5.0 gallons per hour), which results in less water lost to evaporation or run off. Because drip irrigation applies water only to the root zone of the nursery crop, roots tend to concentrate within the zone wet by the drip irrigation. If fertilizer is applied with drip irrigation, the amount of fertilizer applied to a crop can be reduced while increasing growth due to improved efficiency in fertilizer use. Advantages of drip irrigation include reduced water consumption and fertilizer costs as well as reduced potential of environmental impacts of erosion and nutrient runoff. An additional advantage of drip irrigation is the concentration of more roots in the root ball when the crop is shipped to market and potentially better plant survival. A disadvantage to some nursery crops might be that with drip irrigation, the protection of frost-freeze water application over flowers and flower buds is not possible.