Determining the Cost Efficiency and Water Conservation of Various Irrigation Methods

Overview

Objectives/Goals My objective was to determine which irrigation method would conserve the most water and is the most cost efficient. Methods/Materials I used four different kinds of irrigation methods to grow oats for my experiment: sub-surface tray, sub-surface drip, sprinkler (traditional), and surface drip. A separate container was used for each method. I germinated oat seeds and planted ten in each of the four containers. I used a moisture sensor to know when to water. Using the particular irrigation method for each container, I added one liter of water only if the moisture sensor registered a 4 or below. At the end of ten weeks I added up the amount of water used and compared each system. From my research I know what each of the irrigation methods costs per acre for materials, labor, and water. Results I found that the sub-surface tray conserved the most water, and the sprinkler system used the most amount of water. The sub-surface tray conserved ten more liters than the sprinkler system. The traditional drip and sub-surface drip averaged 12 liters. The sprinkler system was the most cost efficient and the sub-surface tray system costs the most. The sub-surface tray cost $82,298.00 per acre just to start up. The traditional irrigation system only cost $466.00 per acre. The sub-surface drip cost $1,000.00 and the surface drip cost $800.00 to start up. Conclusions/Discussion I observed the roots on the sub-surface tray plants were as much as four times as long as the other three trays. I believe this is because the roots had to grow down to the water making the plants healthier. Through this experiment I furthered my knowledge of irrigation systems. I learned that even though there are better systems for conserving water, it wouldn#t be feasible for growing crops. I learned that the sub-surface drip irrigation, though not the least expensive system, conserved more water than the traditional sprinkler and the surface drip systems and gave a higher yield than the traditional sprinkler and the surface drip systems.

Competition history

• CSEF 2012 Environmental Engineering (Junior Division Only) · Entry J1016

Resources

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