As the summer heat approaches your region, you may be planning your next crop rotation or seasonal patio refresh. But to truly optimize your land, you should also put a detailed irrigation plan at the top of your list.
As temperatures rise and days get longer, water evaporates from the soil at a faster rate. To produce a healthy harvest, you’ll need to expand your watering schedule to ensure proper absorption.
So, how do you increase irrigation while still minimizing utility bills? The rural experts at Land.com are here with 10 practical strategies for efficient water management during the summer. Let’s dive in.
Rainwater Harvesting Techniques
Take advantage of the resources that nature has to offer by collecting rainwater, an innovative yet easy way to save water in the summer. Plus, rainwater is a high-quality hydration source, as it is naturally soft and chemical-free, with little to no dissolved minerals.1
No matter their shape or size, rainwater harvesting systems generally include five parts:
- Catchment area
- Gutters or downspouts
- Storage tanks
- Conveyance pipes (gravity-fed or pumped)
- Water treatment
Here are a few of the most common strategies.
1. Put Out a Rain Barrel
A rain barrel is the perfect option for a home garden, especially for the blooming flowers and shrubbery abundant on your property in the summer. Easy to install and maintain, rain barrels just need some routine cleaning to stay in tip-top shape.
2. Set Up Aboveground Tanks
For a large-scale operation, water your farm using rainwater collected in an aboveground tank. Using a pressurized pumping system, the water is delivered directly to your fields.
Another aboveground option is a tank that attaches to the roof of a home or barn, which uses gravity to send the water downward into a collection tank or pumping system.2
3. Install Underground Tanks
Since they are kept out of the sunlight and any weather conditions, underground tanks regulate temperature, face less wear and tear, and help prevent algal growth. They require a more complex installation but take up much less land space.2
Efficient Irrigation Systems
Once you’ve implemented sustainable water collection practices, the next step is an irrigation system. Just like rainwater harvesting, you won’t have to break the bank in order to efficiently irrigate your crops.
4. Adopt a Regular Watering Schedule
You may be tempted to skip this step, but a well-planned irrigation schedule is crucial to crop success and water conservation. It will also ensure that you don’t accidentally over- or underwater your fields.
As you develop your irrigation plan, be sure to take into account soil health, peak temperatures, specific crop needs, and more.
In addition to manual methods, there are also modern smart technologies to enhance your water management.
5. Controllers
The baseline of a smart irrigation system is a controller. This technology is suitable for large farms and small plots alike, helping landowners save water and money throughout the summer. There are two types3:
- Climate-based controllers – Also called evapotranspiration (ET) controllers, this model tracks local weather data in order to provide irrigation recommendations. Based on the changing climate, controllers calculate the rate of surface evaporation versus plant absorption.
- Soil moisture sensor controllers – These underground controllers estimate the soil water volume. When water content dips below a certain level, the controllers are programmed to automatically begin irrigation.
Costs vary depending on controller specifications, but you will make up your investment with water savings in the long run.
6. Sensors
If you already have an irrigation system in place, such as a watering timer, you can simply add smart sensors rather than upgrading to an entirely new system. There are several add-on sensors to choose from to enhance your irrigation3:
- Soil moisture sensors – This device measures the amount of moisture near plant roots and skips irrigation if the moisture level is high enough. Many soil sensors also include a freeze feature, in which irrigation is blocked if temperatures are below 32 degrees.
- Rain and freeze sensors—There are several types to choose from, and rain sensors interrupt scheduled irrigation during rain, other precipitation, and freezing temperatures. This is one of the easiest ways to minimize water waste.
- Wind sensors—These add-ons interrupt irrigation if the wind hits a certain speed, helping minimize water runoff and promote even irrigation distribution.
Adding sensors is both sustainable and cost-effective.
Soil Moisture Conservation Methods
After ensuring the best water-saving techniques, you must ensure that the water is actually absorbed into the soil, even with soaring temperatures. The hotter and dryer the weather, the faster the soil loses moisture.
Moisture loss occurs in two ways: water can evaporate directly from the soil (evaporation), or water can be lost from plants (transpiration). Together, these two processes create evapotranspiration.4
Moisture conservation is key to promoting proper hydration, producing high crop yields, and capitalizing on your irrigation technology. Luckily, there are several eco-conscious and simple ways to help conserve soil moisture.
7. Lay Down Mulch
Covering your soil surface with mulch is a highly effective way to help retain moisture and minimize evaporation. Plus, mulching can also help control weed growth, reduce soil erosion, and provide nutrients to plants.
Consider natural mulches such as:
- Straw
- Wood chips
- Peat
You can also use inorganic mulches such as plastic sheeting or rubber for large-scale harvests, but they are harder to apply and remove.4
8. Recycle Organic Material
Similar to mulch, organic material acts as a natural barrier on top of the soil, helping to control moisture loss. It also improves soil structure as plant roots penetrate more deeply into the soil and access greater moisture. Plus, most organic materials act as slow-release fertilizers, providing additional nutrients to plants while keeping them hydrated.4
There are many types of beneficial organic matter:
- Leaf mold – Decomposed shrub or tree leaves
- Plant residues – Other decomposed vegetative material
- Manure – Animal waste
- Compost – Any decomposed organic matter, including food waste
- Green manure – Plants grown specifically to incorporate into the soil
Organic fertilizers go hand-in-hand with conservation tillage, a method of residue management in which you till your land less often in order to leave behind crop residue. This organic plant material stays on the soil surface and helps conserve moisture, all without any effort on your part.
9. Plant Cover Crops
In addition to laying organic material like mulches, you can also try planting cover crops, which are designed only for soil cover instead of harvest. You may be wondering—why plant crops you’ll never harvest rather than focus on your cash crops?
Consider cover crops as a long-term investment in your land. In fact, they help increase crop yields, improve soil health, control pest outbreaks, and attract pollinators. Research shows that many landowners see a return on their cover crop investment after just 1-3 years.
When choosing cover crops, you should first perform a soil analysis to determine the nutrients and minerals your soil lacks. Then, consider your soil type: Will you need cover crops that reduce erosion, provide shade, suppress weeds, or all of the above?
Overall, cover crops help conserve soil moisture throughout the summer and beyond. There are many options depending on your farm’s needs:
- Legumes – Red clover, crimson clover, peas, beans
- Cereals – Rye, wheat, barley, oats
- Broadleaf plants – Buckwheat, mustards, cabbage
To multiply the benefits, try planting cover crop mixtures. Keep in mind that mixtures are more costly and can be difficult to seed, but will provide exceptional results in the long run.5
10. Regularly Rotate Crops
Not only growing different types of crops each season but also changing these crops every year goes a long way in promoting moisture conservation. Crop rotation enhances biodiversity on your land, plus promotes a range of benefits for soil health.
Choose a diverse array of crops to fully take advantage of the rotation, especially when trying to conserve water. For instance, planting a deep-rooted crop after a shallow one allows the new plants to access deeper moisture reserves that the short roots couldn’t reach.5
Conservation Tillage and Cover Crops
Consider implementing conservation tillage into your crop rotation plan. As we mentioned, low- or no-till is an excellent way to retain organic material. It is also the perfect opportunity to utilize cover crops, as they will become beneficial plant residue. Over time, cover crops will increase soil moisture conservation.
Combining cover crops with your low-till crop rotation is a great way to create a well-rounded harvest plan. You can add cover crops to an existing rotation or develop a new planting schedule.5
Discover More Practical Tips from Land News
As you maximize your water resources for the summer, head to Land News for the latest expert advice. With more tips on soil health, weed and pest control, water conservation, and how to prep your land for summer crops, we’ve got you covered for the hot months ahead.
Looking for new acreage this summer? Land.com is the nation’s leading marketplace for rural real estate. Browse farms for sale across 50 states, or connect with a Land Pro in your area. Our trusted brokers are experienced in rural land transactions, so you can find the perfect property in no time.
Contact us today to get started.
Sources:
- USDA. Managing Semi-Arid Watersheds: Watershed Basics – Water Harvesting. https://www.fs.usda.gov/rm/boise/AWAE/labs/awae_flagstaff/watersheds/basics/waterharvesting.html.
- Farmers Weekly. A guide on how to harvest rainwater on a farm. https://www.fwi.co.uk/livestock/housing/a-guide-on-how-to-harvest-rainwater-on-a-farm.
- Oklahoma State University Extension. Smart Irrigation Technology: Controllers and Sensors. https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/smart-irrigation-technology-controllers-and-sensors.html.
- Nova Scotia Agriculture and Fisheries. Soil Moisture Conservation. https://nsefp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/NSCA-2001-Soil-Moisture-Conservation.pdf.
- SARE. Cover Crops for Sustainable Crop Rotations. https://www.sare.org/resources/cover-crops/.