Drip-irrigation study sees ‘huge’ water reduction
A new study suggests that drip irrigation for sweet corn can significantly conserve water, reduce fertilizer use and boost crop yield in the low desert of California – and likely in other areas of California with similar conditions. … Among the 11 commercial sweet corn fields in the study over the 2021-22 season, the six that were under drip irrigation used, on average, 37% less water than the five under furrow irrigation. … More efficient irrigation also means less fertilizer is needed – a boon to the environment and Salton Sea water quality, as well as growers’ bottom line.