Irrigation and Drainage 133 



larger quantities in three or four irrigations. Irrigating 

 every row was found to be much superior to running the 

 water down alternate rows. Keeping the soil constantly 

 wet was also found to be detrimental to the crop. Beckett/ 

 in California, ascertained the yield of beets to increase 

 with the increase of water. This was, however, affected 

 by the time of planting. 



The author ^ determined that when weekly irrigations 

 were given, one inch each week gave a higher yield than 

 when more was given. These results are shown in Fig. 50. 

 It will be noted from the variation in the water require- 

 ments of beets under different conditions that it is im- 

 possible to give a definite duty of water for beets under 

 all conditions. 



Time to apply water. 



No set rule can be given as to the time to irrigate beets, 

 except to say that when the land becomes too dry for 

 favorable gro\\-th, it is time to add water. This condition 

 will come at different times in the life of the plant under 

 different conditions. 



McClatchie,^ working in Arizona, found that if seeding 

 was done during the cool part of the year, the crop needed 

 no irrigation for a month or so after planting, but if grown 

 during the time of warm weather of early fall, it needed 

 frequent watering till the weather became cool. If the 

 beets were planted in the warm spring weather, irrigation 

 was necessary during the entire period of growth. Where 



1 Beckett, S. H., U. S. Dept. of Agr., Bui. No. 10. 



2 Harris, F. S., Utah Exp. Stn., Bui. No. 156. 



» McClatchie, A. J., Ariz. Exp. Sla., Buls. Nos. 31 and 41. 



