CGM Irrigation & Water Management Flashcards

What is 'distribution uniformity' (DU) in irrigation, and why does it matter?

Answer: A measure of how evenly water is applied across an irrigated area; low DU means some areas are over- or under-watered

DU quantifies consistency of water application across a zone; poor uniformity leads to drought stress in dry spots or disease and waste in wet spots.

When conducting a catch-can test on a turf irrigation system, what is being measured?

Answer: The uniformity and precipitation rate of sprinkler coverage

A catch-can test places containers throughout a zone to collect applied water, revealing distribution uniformity and the actual precipitation rate delivered.

Which irrigation scheduling strategy is considered most water-efficient for established turfgrass?

Answer: Deep, infrequent watering that wets the full root zone and allows soil to partially dry between cycles

Deep, infrequent irrigation promotes deeper root growth and allows the soil to partially dry, reducing fungal disease pressure and total water use.

What is the function of a master valve in an irrigation system?

Answer: To serve as a main shutoff that closes when the system is not actively running, preventing leaks from faulty zone valves

A master valve acts as a failsafe shutoff installed at the system's water source that only opens when a zone valve is scheduled to run.

In the US, which entity typically regulates irrigation water use restrictions during drought conditions?

Answer: State and local water authorities or municipalities

Water use restrictions during drought are primarily managed by state water agencies and local water utilities, which issue mandatory or voluntary conservation orders.

What is 'cycle and soak' programming in irrigation controllers designed to address?

Answer: Runoff from compacted or sloped soils by applying water in shorter, repeated cycles with rest intervals

Cycle and soak breaks a watering cycle into multiple short runs with rest periods, allowing water to infiltrate before more is applied, reducing runoff.