Manage the System

Operation

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Determine the System Interval

• Intervals during peak and non-peak periods

• Scheduling with the checkbook method

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Take Advantage of Off-Peak Pricing

• Electrical power rate structures

• Special electrical controls

• Modifications to design

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Use Soil Moisture Sensors to Improve

Scheduling

• Simple measurements

• Soil based controls

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Start and Stop the System

• Soil moisture trigger points

• Anticipating rain

Appearance of clay, clay loam, and silty clay loam soils at various soilmoisture conditions.

Available Water Capacity 1.6-2.4 inches/foot

Percent Available: Currently available soil moisture as a percent of available water capacity.

In/ft. Depleted: Inches of water needed to refill a foot of soil to field capacity.

0-25 percent available 2.4-1.2 in/ft. depletedDry, soil aggregations separate easily, clods are hard to crumble with applied pressure.

(Not pictured)

25-50 percent available 1.8-0.8 in/ft. depletedSlightly moist, forms a weak ball, very few soil aggregations break away, no water stains, clods

flatten with applied pressure.

OLD and NEW TOOLS

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Scheduling Multiple Pivots

Pressure constraints

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Computer Management

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Implement Current Control Technology

Off-site sensing and control

(SCADA)

Telemetry (radio, cellular, etc.)

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Uniformity Based on Infrared

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Modify Soil Cultivation Practices to Reduce

Runoff

Call in number 1-888-450-5996, confirmation # 3268441.Call in number 1-888-450-5996, confirmation # 3268441.Call in number 1-888-450-5996, confirmation # 3268441.

Dammer-Dikker

Surface storage from crop residue

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Blocking Off the Furrow

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Let’s Go to Our Manuals and Look at Setting Irrigation

Intervals

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Chapter 9Draw Up Plans and

Specs

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Combine Manufacturer Plans with Local Details

Plan view

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Details

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Compile a Systems Specifications Manual

• Manufacturer specs

• Retention pond

• Well and/or screening

• Mainline

• Pump

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Compile a System Operations Manual

• Pivot operation and maintenance

• Scheduling guidelines

• Application/depth vs. speed

• Winterization of the system

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Let’s Go to Our Manuals -

Chapter 9

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