With Less Water Available, Irrigation Efficiency is Key

Houston, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 09/04/2015 -- With severe drought suddenly returning to central Texas, those who rely on crop growing for a living—and the economy that depends on those crops as well—may suffer. As the upper layers of soil dry and crops being to take a turn for the worst, effective farming and irrigation methods must be employed. And for cotton growers, the practice requires an effective irrigation system that's designed to conserve water. At the recent Oklahoma Irrigation Conference in Fort Cobb, Jim Bordovsky, Texas AgriLife Irrigation Research Engineer proposed a four-point plan to improve irrigation efficiency.

The four points of his plan are outlined below:

1. Deliver Water More Efficiently

The first step of Bordovsky's plan involves delivering water more efficiently. To be more specific, subsurface drip irrigation was highlighted as an area that will become more important.

2. Improve Overall Irrigation System Performance

Second, Bordovsky suggested performing overall irrigation system performance by:

- Using appropriate nozzles;
- Adjusting system pressure; and
- Performing regularly maintenance on an irrigation system to ensure productivity.

Maintaining irrigation system pumps and hand pumps is an important component of preventing wasted resources and energy.

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http://www.protekspecialty.com/pumps.html

3. Utilization of Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration is the measurement of water necessary for plant growth, factoring in factors such as quantity of water transpired from a plant, temperature, precipitation, cloud cover, etc. Evapotranspiration can be effectively used to schedule irrigation, ensuring that no water is ever wasted.

4. Change Practice Limitations for Non-water Production

Randy Boman, the research director for Oklahoma State University, as well as the State extension cotton leader, was quoted as saying that, "the variety [of cotton] selected can make a significant difference," on irrigation efficacy.

In addition to the four tips for improve irrigation efficiency named above, (cotton) farmers should also consider the type of irrigation systems they're using, as some irrigation systems—such as LEPA sprinklers—may significantly improve water conservation and irrigation efficiency efforts. With water shortages nationwide, conserving water in terms of farming is more important than ever before.

About PROTEK SPECIALITY CO
PROTEK SPECIALITY CO is a Houston-based company that specializes in manufacturing equipment intended for use in the oil and irrigation industries. Started in 1946, Protek Specialty Co. has nearly 70 years in the primping, pumps, and oilfield parts manufacturing business.

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The Practice May Change Crop Yeilds

Houston, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/01/2015 -- Everywhere you look in the news these days, there's a story about the serious drought in California. From almonds to apricots, cows to chickens, harvest and livestock production; many agricultural niches are suffering as a result of the drought. Not only does this mean prices are going up because of agricultural goods' increasing demand growth, farmers must also look to alternative methods of crop production. Dry farming—where crops are farmed without irrigation—is becoming a must for many farmers because of the drought and ecological concerns elsewhere.

Is dry farming feasible?

Dry farming uses no irrigation at all; instead, rainwater hydrates and grows the produce. Farmers use sophisticated (and sometimes not) irrigation systems utilizing drainage systems, motorized pumps, and hand powered pumps to move water when and where it is needed. Irrigation pumps and primers are crucial in the movement of rainwater for dry farming. Read more about pumps and primers for agriculture here.

Not all crops will benefit from dry farming, but many different types of crops like walnuts, apples, grapes, almonds, and apricots, may thrive from the practice. In fact, people have been using dry farming successfully for hundreds of years. As one man, farmer Mike Cirone said of apples, "When you let them do their own thing, it really accentuates the unique flavor of each variety."

In addition to the crop type, another factor that makes a big difference when dry farming is soil type. Sandy soil doesn't typically mesh well with dry farming, but soil found in foggy and moist areas does. During a drought—where there's little rainwater at all to use for dry farming—high yields are rare.

A Big Change for Farmers in the State of California

The state of California has irrigated more square acreage of land than anywhere else in the nation. For many, dry farming feels as intimidating as it does foreign. For those who have been at the practice of dry farming for years though, the tradition is not about drought; it's about generating high-quality produce that tastes great without relying on water traveling from hundreds of miles away.

Using Water More Efficiently

Dry farming is a feasible and environmentally sound practice for many crops. However, crops like cereal grains need a lot of water to thrive. Because cereal grains are a leading crop in the U.S., the market cannot afford to lose the crop. Putting more efficient water use systems in place and practicing conservation is a must. Using gray water, composting, mulching, wastewater recycling bins, and more are all good first steps. As the California drought continues, it will be interesting to see how resourceful Californians become, and how many begin employing dry farming methods.

About Protek Specialty Co
Protek Specialty Co is a leading manufacturer of high-quality, custom irrigation hand pumps, priming devices, and oilfield specialties for moving and removing liquid. Based in Houston, Texas, we've been creating specialized equipment for the irrigation and oil industry since 1946.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm