WATER-USE AND YIELDS OF COTTON GROWN UNDER WIDE-SPACED FURROW IRRIGATION

Research has shown that wide-spaced furrow irrigation can often produc e acceptable yields of crops with less water than every-furrow irrigat ion. In some seasons wide-spaced will result in less yield because too little water may be applied, particularly if the season has low rainf all and high evaporative demand. Seven years of production studies wit h different seasonal amounts and timing of irrigation produced well fi t functions relating yield and irrigation water for wide-spaced and ev ery-furrow. Results showed that wide-spaced was 15% MoTe efficient tha n every-furrow. They also showed that at the highest yield levels note d, the wide-spaced treatment would require 38% less water for the same yield of cotton. Also, a given water recharge of the soil produced a 48% greater yield if the water were applied as wide-spaced furrow irri gation than as every-furrow irrigation.