THE IKRIGATION AGE. 



377 



IRRIGATION DOUBLES YIELD IN OREGON 



IRRIGATION of nine standard field crops of the 

 \Yillamette valley in Oregon, for a period of 

 seven years has shown that irrigation produces an 

 increased yield of 53 per cent as an average. At 

 the maximum price of $1 per acre inch of water 

 the average profit on these crops was $2.66 per 

 acre inch for all water used. Since the most profit- 

 able amount of water varies with different crops 

 from one to two acre inches to six acre inches, the 

 entire profit per acre is seen to be a highly im- 

 portant factor in lowering the production cost of 

 these crops. 



In order to determine scientifically and accu- 

 rately the value of irrigation in the Willamette 

 valley the agronomy department of the 'Oregon Ag- 

 ricultural college instituted an exhaustive series of 

 tests seven years ago. The experiments have been 

 carried on continuously since that time, and now 

 for the first -time results have been compiled by 

 Professor W. L. Powers. Concerning the character 

 and extent of the tests Professor Powers says : 



"The experiment to determine the practicability 

 and also the most advisable means and methods of 

 irrigation here has been enlarged and carried for- 

 ward with 60 plats, including nine different crops 

 of standard varieties. Seven years' data are now 

 on hand, showing profit from irrigation with all 

 but one of these crops. Careful weather and evap- 

 oration records have been kept and nearly 10,000 



soil moisture determinations have been made in 

 connection with this work. 



"Usable moisture has been found throughout 

 the dry season below the fourth foot of soil, but 

 upward capillary movement becomes retarded, and 

 the weathering processes and bacterial activity re- 

 tarded by drying out of the surface soil in summer. 

 A little irrigation seems to stimulate these life-giv- 

 ing processes in the soil. Irrigation has given a 

 higher sessional moisture content and this is asso- 

 ciated with higher yields. The greatest increase in 

 moisture has been in meadow plants, but the most 

 economical yields due to irrigation have been with 

 cultivated crops. 



"Irrigation lowered the temperature of the sur- 

 face soil as much as 4 degrees in cultivated plants 

 and as much as 10 degrees in meadow plants. 



"One irrigation has been better than two irri- 

 gations for most crops. The most economical in- 

 crease in yield of hay was secured by use of about 

 four acre inches' irrigation in a wet season and 

 about six acre inches in a dry season, while the 

 maximum yield has been obtained from six acre 

 inches in a wet season and twelve acre inches in a 

 dry season. The most economical returns with 

 potatoes has been secured with two acre inches in 

 a wet season and with three or four acre inches in 

 a dry season, while the maximum yield for potatoes 



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 at the minimum expense for fuel and main- 

 tenance That's what you get when you 

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