Irrigation

[blueriver]

Thanks for the link ... alot of interesting reading. It is extremly hot and dry.

My dumb arse set up another run last night about 6 p.m. at about 9 I decide to go check things and the gun had not moved !! I thought oh sh*t this thing broke ... nope forgot to engage the reel clutch ... so that area got alot of water.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Thanks for the link ... alot of interesting reading. It is extremly hot and dry.

My dumb arse set up another run last night about 6 p.m. at about 9 I decide to go check things and the gun had not moved !! I thought oh sh*t this thing broke ... nope forgot to engage the reel clutch ... so that area got alot of water.

I've gone out and moved the wheel line and forgot to close the end drain. I opened the valve and waited for the line to pressurize - and waited - and waited. Now that end drain is 1/4 mile away so it's back down to the end to close it.

Other times I've gotten back to the house before I realize that a sprinkler head is plugged. I normally don't shutdown to clear a plugged head but I sure get wet in the process.

Eventualy you'll develop a routine that will reduces these incidents but I doubt you'll ever eliminate them. Welcome to the wacky world of irrigation!

 

[blueriver]

I dug down yesterday ... moisture at about 8" ... I could actually make a ball out of the sand.

I can see the bermuda grass turning bright green.

 

[Jerry/MT]

I dug down yesterday ... moisture at about 8" ... I could actually make a ball out of the sand.

I can see the bermuda grass turning bright green.

Success!!!!

 

[blueriver]

Here's a couple of pictures ... before and after a little water. Next is fertilizer and Grayzon.

 

[RPW]

blueriver- congrats. I wish I had a source of water to irriagate with. I've got barely enough water to keep my animals going. Still got "some" grazing left but will be buying hay shortly. Average here has been 105. No rain since March/April. I've got a lot of Junipers and after current project gets complete will be working to remove as many as possible. Just read a very interesting article on transpiration and that is another reason to get the scrub trees out of there.

 

[blueriver]

There is a lot of reading regarding Transpiration ... thanks for the congrats, I'm real happy with the progress.

I am using alot of water ... I have a measuring stick set up and can watch the levels drop. I am rotaing from all 3 ponds.

My biggest problem is getting my spring revived ... I have been digging and pushing dirt and I keep getting seepage, hoping to find the head of it soon.

 

[blueriver]

Bad luck ... the PTO pump locked up ... the gear oil is still bright red ... I called Smith and no question's asked the new one is in transit.

I pulled the bottom plate off and chunks of gears all over and wedged so it would not turn ... I removed them and can spin it over by hand.

I quess thats just the way it goes ... sure was comforting to hear Terry say "no problem ... new one is on the way" ... Now thats service!!

 

[Jerry/MT]

Here's a couple of pictures ... before and after a little water. Next is fertilizer and Grayzon.

Are you considering getting a soil test before you fertilize? This will ensure that you put on what's needed. You also want to make sure that you have adequate water so that the plants can use that fertilizer. If you have sandy soils, you have to really be careful with water application because you can leach the fertizer through the root zone and into the aquifier. That's not good for the grasss or the aquifier!
For herbicide to work properly, you'll need to make sure the plants are actively growing. Since your're in a pretty droughty situation, it might be more effective to use the herbicide in the Spring.

 

[blueriver]

Are you considering getting a soil test before you fertilize? This will ensure that you put on what's needed. You also want to make sure that you have adequate water so that the plants can use that fertilizer. If you have sandy soils, you have to really be careful with water application because you can leach the fertizer through the root zone and into the aquifier. That's not good for the grasss or the aquifier!
For herbicide to work properly, you'll need to make sure the plants are actively growing. Since your're in a pretty droughty situation, it might be more effective to use the herbicide in the Spring.

I do have the soil sample and have the same concerns that you share. Have you used any liquid fertilizer?

There are areas that have shot up some weeds, I quess from the water. I'm considering spot spraying ...I hate a weed.