Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

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Agricultural Water Management Basics

Plant Sciences & Natural ResourcesGrade Level7-12th Grades

Lesson Length60-120 minutes

STEM Careers Irrigation Specialist Irrigated Farmer Engineer Agronomist Software Developer

Life Skills Reason, Make Decisions

-What is agricultural irrigation?-What is the importance of water management in agricultural irrigation?

Learning ObjectivesBy the end of the lesson, students should be able to: Define basic

irrigation terminology. Explain the importance of irrigation and water management

in agriculture and factors that determine irrigation amounts. Identify problems associated with under or over-irrigating

crops and provide solutions to those problems.

Educational Standards SupportedNebraska State Standards: SC.12.1.1.f

Materials List Access to the Internet Sites to create info graphics such as piktochart.com or

canva.com OR markers/crayons to create an info graphic by hand

Journals or science notebook handouts 3-4 corn/soybean plants in containers (if not available, use

3-4 potted plants of some kind that you don’t mind if it dies) -1 healthy plant, 1 over-watered for about 3-4 days, 1 under-watered and starting to die

Paper towels Handouts (following lesson)

Do Ahead Obtain three plants (preferably corn and/or soybeans, but

any plant will work) in the same containers. A couple of weeks prior to the lesson, overwater one plant, properly water one plant and deprive the other plan of any water.

IntroductionThe goal of irrigation management is to use water in the most profitable way at sustainable production levels. For production agriculture, this generally means supplementing precipitation with irrigation when crop water demand is high. For example, recent years there have been declines in groundwater levels in Nebraska, almost statewide, and other High Plains states. Considerable areas of Nebraska are considered fully or over-appropriated. This means that in those over-appropriated areas, there will be no new development of irrigated acres. In fully appropriated areas, the water demand and use are

To gauge students’ previous knowledge of irrigation, have them jot a few notes in their science notebook.

The goal of irrigation management is to use water resources to meet crop water requirements in the most profitable way at

Irrigation Careers InterviewTypes of Irrigation

water.unl.edu websitecropwatch.unl.edu website

Check out Nebraska Extension’s Interactive

Agricultural Water Management Guide!

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Supplemental Information

Nebraska Facts

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY… See what areas are fully or over-appropriated at http://www.dnr.ne.gov/iwm/fully-appropriated-and-overappropriated-surface-water-in-nebraska

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Agricultural Water Management BasicsScience Notebook

Thoughts about irrigation….

The goal of irrigation management is…..

Over-Appropriated:

Fully Appropriated:

Careers involved in irrigation include

Irrigation is important!

Water Management Basics

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Science Notebook Key concepts with irrigation include:

Soil Water Available Soil Water

Excess soil water or gravitational water

Field Capacity Permanent Wilting Point

Water Management Basics Science Notebook

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

As an agronomist, examine the three plants. What are the differences between the plants? What types of conditions do you think were present for each plant?

What can we learn from these three plants?

What I have learned from this lesson…….

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Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln cooperating with the Counties and the United States Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Youth Development program abides with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the United States Department of Agriculture.

OTHER LESSONS TO FOLLOW: History of irrigation & types of irrigation, present irrigation Irrigation types: Surface, Sprinkler, Trickle/Drip Irrigation Management Strategies

o Soil typeso Limited or Deficit o Irrigation Timing

Tools used to irrigateo ETgageo Watermark Sensors

Variable Rate Irrigation & Future of Irrigation Nebraska Ag Water Management Network (tie to citizen scientist) Resources Page

o Appso Z-Mag

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