Background

Research shows that properly scheduling agricultural irrigation applications can lead to increased water use efficiency (WUE), i.e. more crop yield per unit of irrigation water applied, and can often lead to water conservation and/or increases in yield. Numerous studies conducted by the University of Georgia (UGA), including many at the Stripling Irrigation Research Park (SIRP), have shown that advanced irrigation scheduling tools such as soil moisture sensors and evapotranspiration (ET) –based models will significantly improve WUE under all types of weather conditions. Yet, many farmers are hesitant to adopt such technologies.  Based on results from other projects, farmers are more inclined to try a technology if their local UGA Extension county agent recommends the technology.

The Lower Flint – Ochlocknee Regional Water Council (LFO) and the Upper Flint Regional Water Council (UF) (Fig 1), in their respective Regional Water Plans (updated 2017), specify several demand management (DM) practices, for both surface water and groundwater, to address potential gaps in water resources in their respective regions of Georgia. The DM1 and DM4 demand management practices in the LFO along with the DM4 and DM5 demand management practices in the UF demonstrate the need for continuous improvements in agricultural water use efficiency (more crop per drop) and water conservation in the two regions.

Links to Water Plans:

• Lower Flint – Ochlocknee Water Plan
• Upper Flint Water Plan