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Irrigation Scheduling in Humid Climates Using the Checkbook Method

ID

BSE-239P

Authors as Published

Julie Shortridge, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech

This publication is available in an enhanced digital version and PDF.

Irrigation scheduling is the process of deciding when and how much irrigation to apply to a field. Applying too little irrigation water can cause crop losses and yield reduction, but applying too much water can waste money, fertilizer, and labor, and can even decrease yields in some cases. The goal of this bulletin is to provide information that can help irrigators schedule irrigation using the checkbook method. It describes some of the benefits of irrigation scheduling and general factors that influence the amount and timing of irrigation needs. It then describes the data needed for checkbook irrigation scheduling and how to get this data, the calculations involved, and software/apps that can be used to help with these calculations.


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Publication Date

January 30, 2019