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Show Wasted Water In , Irrigation Provokes Problem Over widespread sections of the 22 million acres of western irrigated farm less than half the water applied to the land actually actual-ly benefits the crops, according fo Allan McCulloch and Wayne Criddle, writing in the new U. S. Department of Agriculture bulletin, "Conservation Irrigation." Irriga-tion." This wasted irrigation water wa-ter usually causes land damage by erosion, alkali accumulation, leaching or waterlogging, they declare. "Every gallon of water that is either pumped or purchased pur-chased is money wasted out of the farmer's pocket when the water is wasted. It increases cost of crop production, in addition ad-dition to the damage his crops and land may suffer," it is stated. They use a relatively new term .conservation irrigation as part of, the current western irrigation terminology. This is simply using irrigated spils and irrigation water in a way that will insure high production without waste of either soil or water. It means using cropping, irrigation and cultural methods that will help keep the land in permanent agriculture," it is explained. Along with sketches of improved im-proved layouts and photographic examples of various types of irrigation ir-rigation systems, the authors say that in following conservation conserva-tion irrigation, these steps are recommended: (1) Make an inventory of your soil and water resources, as well as inquiries into more adequate supplies, if necessary. (2) Decide how to apply the water to fit your land. (3) Plan your distribution system sys-tem to carry water where reed-. ed and to safely dispose pf any waste. (4) Prepare the tend so that water can be applied efficiently, some land possibly may need leveling. (5) Make efficient use of the water by adjusting the size and flow of streams and taking special care if there is alkali in the water to keep it from settling at the roots of the plants. Trained assistance in handling this job may be obtained by farmers in the Uintah Basin district dis-trict through the technical personnel per-sonnel of the Soil Conservation Service. A copy of this bulletin bulle-tin can be obtained at the Soil Conservation Service office in Roosevelt. 1 |