SPRINKLER IRRIGATION SCHEDULING WITH THE UGA EASY PAN: PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

A new, inexpensive irrigation scheduling device called the UGA EASY Pan is introduced for application to sprinkler irrigated row-crop production systems in humid areas. The device uses a washtub and a float system to determine water loss from the pan as it relates to crop water loss. The device can be set to represent different crops and soil water holding conditions. An indicator arm allows reading of the device from the edge of an irrigated field. Initial test results indicate reasonable comparison with other irrigation scheduling methods for cotton and peanut on loamy sand soils in south Georgia. Water use on peanut as recommended by the UGA EASY Pan with a 50-mm mesh screen and a setting of 127 mm on the float rod resulted in water use within 5 mm of the total seasonal water use based on the soil water content scheduling method (or control) with similar yields. Using the UGA EASY Pan on cotton with standard window screen and a setting of 127 mm on the float rod resulted in total water application of about 150 mm which was within 5 mm of the application amount based on the soil water content (control) scheduling method. Average yields from the replicated UGA EASY Pan plots were within 0.1 T/ha of the yields associated with the control irrigation scheduling method.