Researchers: New Irrigation Method Saves 50% Of Water Needed For Potato Production

University of Florida researchers have found an irrigation method that uses 50% less water than traditional systems to grow potatoes.

Center pivot irrigation sprinklers in Florida

Photo courtesy of UF/IFAS

With the new system (“hybrid center pivot irrigation”), about two-thirds of the water used to help grow potatoes is sprayed from above ground, similar to natural rainfall, and about one-third comes from under the ground (seepage).

Advertisement

UF/IFAS Assistant Professor Guodong “David” Liu led a group of UF/IFAS researchers in testing the impact of hybrid center pivot irrigation on soil moisture and temperature at a Manatee County potato farm. The method saved about 55% of water in a three-year trial at the farm. Additionally, researchers found no loss in crop yield using less water. Liu said he now is convincing growers to use center pivot irrigation with fertigation, in which all the water comes from above-ground sprinklers. Scientists say they may save one third more water.

“By using center pivot irrigation, we saved approximately 1 billion gallons of irrigation on the private farm during the last three growing seasons,” he said.

Top Articles
Have a Plan For Climate Change? Why Fruit Growers Need To Act Now

Center pivot irrigation equipment costs about $1,000 per acre, but it can be used for many years.

While the use of center pivot irrigation is prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, adoption by Florida growers is still a work in progress. According to Liu, in addition to the Manatee County farm, some potato and snap bean growers in Live Oak, FL, are using center pivot irrigation.

The new UF/IFAS study is published in the journal Agricultural Water Management.

0