The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Sprinkler Irrigation

Checking The Soil Moisture

Soil moisture should be checked both before and after irrigation. Before irrigation the check will determine whether or not the wilting point has been reached and whether or not moisture should be added. After each irrigation the check will determine if the soil is saturated to the bottom of the root zone. A very simple method of checking moisture is the feel of the soil. Compare to Chart No. 15, called the "Feel" Chart. The soil should compare to "Fair" on the chart when ready to irrigate, and should compare to "Excellent " on the chart at the bottom of the root zone 24 hours after irrigation.

These tests can be made with either a shovel or soil probe.

This check is absolutely necessary, especially when a system is first operated. Only then can the operator determine when he is getting sufficient moisture in the soil to the proper depth, and tell whether or not he is over irrigating. A ball of soil taken at the time interval and depth indicated in Chart No. 15, page 17, squeezed in the hand should bring a distinct water sheen to the surface. This will compare to "Excellent" on the chart. If free water runs from the ball of soil, it is over irrigated and water is being wasted.

Where To Use Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler irrigation has proven successful in the following types of installations:
Agriculture
Orchards (all types) Groves (all types)
Hay
Pasture
Row Crops
Grain Vegetables Root Crops
Berries
Cranberry Bogs
Green Houses
Lath Houses
Nurseries
Turf
Golf Courses
Parks
Cemeteries
Athletic Fields
Public Grounds
Private Lawns
Race Tracks
Paddocks
Airports

Evaporation Losses

A question frequently asked concerning sprinkling is, how much water is lost by evaporation when water is sprayed into the air? Generally it has been assumed that the loss directly from the spray may be appreciable, especially on warm, dry days, and when the wind is blowing. In addition to the loss from the spray there are direct evaporation losses from wet surfaces during and following every application of water.

Evaporation From The Spray

There has been little published from which one might obtain information on the evaporation from water drops moving rapidly through the air. To compare sprinkling with other methods of irrigation, one must separate these losses from those which occur subsequently from the wet soil, and which are common to all irrigation methods. In order to obtain some information on this subject, the sprinkler tests for distribution of water were planned so that the total amount of water applied to the entire area could be calculated from the amounts caught in the cans. This was one of the principal reasons for spacing the cans uniformly over the entire area.