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Dale Bumpers College
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In 2001 Crittenden County 50 producers raised over 44,000 acres of rice. Conventional irrigation method is to discharge water at the highest elevation in the field and allow gravity to flow down the field. This may take 10 to 14 days on larger fields.
Multiple inlet concept uses poly pipe that is placed with the slope, crossing levees. This methods quickly floods the field up at the same rate across the entire field. Less pumping time equals less energy cost. Less water used aids to save our precious ground water. Less labor is requires once the field is flooded and the gates are adjusted during the first couple of weeks versus adjusting the entire season long.
Six producers were assisted with this new irrigation methods. On the Jamey Sharp farm, a joint educational efforts was conducted by local staff, Phil Tacker-Extension Engineer, Rice Promotion Board, and DanMar Propane.
In this demonstration, 4 fields (approximately 75 acres each) were monitored by flow meters. By comparing the fields, it was determined that the multiple inlet fields saved over 20% of the water over the conventional. This was approximately 1 million gallons of water per week savings. Jamey indicated that he would use the multiple inlet method on all his rice next year.
Impacts
Multiple Inlet Demonstration Facts
- Less Water-20% (1 Million gallons of water saved each week of pumping.)
- Less Fuel-400 gallon/season on a 75 acre field
- Less Cold Water Effects on rice
- Less Labor and Time in Rice Field
- Higher Nitrogen Efficiency through quicker flooding of field.
Survey Results
- $4 -5.00 Per Acre Saved
- 30-50% Less Time to irrigated field.
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