Ridge tillage for managing irrigation water on the U.S. Southern Great Plains

Abstract

Ridge tillage (furrowing) is widely used on irrigated land on the Southern Great Plains, especially on soils adapted to gravity flow, furrow irrigation. Ridge tillage is also used in conjunction with surge irrigation, limited irrigation, and precision water application techniques. This report reviews the effects of ridge tillage on irrigation water management and crop establishment. Furrow irrigation, made possible by ridge tillage, results in relatively uniform distribution of water in the field with length of run. Exceptions are on slowly permeable soils where infiltration at the lower end of the field may be low, and on moderately permeable soils where infiltration and losses to deep percolation may be high. Practices that result in more uniform water application on slowly permeable soils include allowing tailwater runoff, surge irrigation, deep loosening of the soil (especially at the lower end of the field), and precision water application. On moderately permeable soils, furrow compaction, surge irrigation, and precision water application practices help to reduce water losses resulting from high infiltration rates and deep percolation. The effects of these practices on water infiltration and irrigation efficiency are discussed. Also discussed are the advantages and disadvantages of ridge tillage for crop establishment.