Management Recommendations for Blocked-end Furrow Irrigation

Regardless of whether you dike or block the ends of your furrows, or if you irrigate using every or every other furrow, soil texture, slope and surface conditions (whether the furrow is smooth or rough, wet or dry) all influence how quickly water advances down the furrow. The speed of advance is directly related to how uniformly irrigation water is distributed within the soil profile. The soil infiltration rate is also affected by soil surface conditions. To optimize irrigation performance, soil surface conditions should be evaluated prior to all irrigations and the set size and corresponding stream size chosen accordingly. The Cutoff ratio has been designed as a tool to assist in making set time and stream size irrigation management decisions.