Watertable Management Saves Water and Energy

ABSTRACT FIELD-PLOT and lysimeter experiments on Hecla-Arveson-Fossum Association soils (sandy loams to loamy sands) show that relatively small increases in watertable depth, beyond the optimum depth of about 1.3 m, increased the irrigation requirement and thus energy use for maximum corn and sugarbeet production. Also, watertable depths shallower than optimum decreased yields. Lowering the watertable 0.2 m and 0.3 m for maximum corn dry matter and corn grain yields, respectively, increased the irrigation required by 26 cm. Similarly, irrigation requirement was increased 32 cm for maximum production of sugarbeet root and sucrose yields when watertable depth was lowered 0.4 and 0.5 m, respectively. Thus the watertable is a valuable agricultural resource that should be maintained at the optimum depth to save both water and energy.