Water Resources & Irrigation Management Flashcards
7 cards from real Agriculture and Environment practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Water Resources & Irrigation Management flashcards as text
Which practice most effectively reduces agricultural irrigation water loss from evaporation?
Answer: Irrigating at night or early morning
Irrigating at night or early morning reduces evaporation losses because temperatures and wind speeds are lower, allowing more applied water to reach plant roots rather than being lost to the atmosphere.
A farm 'water budget' primarily tracks:
Answer: Water inputs, outputs, and storage to ensure sustainable use
A farm water budget accounts for all inputs (precipitation, irrigation) and outputs (ET, runoff, deep percolation) to manage water resources sustainably across the growing season.
What is deficit irrigation as a water management strategy?
Answer: Applying less water than full crop requirements during drought-tolerant growth stages to conserve water
Deficit irrigation intentionally applies less water than full crop requirements during growth stages when crops are most drought-tolerant, conserving water with minimal impact on final yield.
Which cover crop practice best improves soil water retention in dryland farming systems?
Answer: Selecting deep-rooted cover crops that improve soil structure and organic matter
Deep-rooted cover crops improve soil structure by creating biopores and increasing organic matter content, which significantly enhances the soil's water-holding capacity and infiltration rate.
In irrigation management, what does the 'uniformity coefficient' measure?
Answer: How evenly water is distributed across an irrigated field
The uniformity coefficient (Christiansen's CU) measures how evenly water is distributed across an irrigated field; higher values indicate more uniform distribution and better system performance.
What is the primary purpose of surge irrigation in furrow irrigation systems?
Answer: To improve water distribution uniformity by delivering water in intermittent pulses
Surge irrigation delivers water in timed pulses to furrows, which improves advance rate uniformity and distribution efficiency compared to continuous-flow furrow irrigation.
Which irrigation management practice can lead to soil salinization over time if not properly addressed?
Answer: Continuous irrigation without adequate leaching fractions
Continuous irrigation without adequate leaching (applying extra water to flush salts below the root zone) causes progressive salt accumulation in soils, reducing crop productivity and soil health.