Conservation Production Systems Influence on Selected Mid-Southern USA Furrow-Irrigation Properties.

Furrow-irrigation is widely implemented in Mid-Southern, USA agriculture to supplement seasonal rainfall during the cropping season. Decreases in furrow advance times and infiltration volumes create greater runoff volumes and poor irrigation application efficiencies inherent to furrow-irrigation. This study sought to quantify the effects of conservation tillage and cover crops on aspects necessary to increase the irrigation application efficiency of furrow-irrigation in Mid-Southern, USA soybean (Glycine max L.) production. Seven treatments arranged in a randomized complete block (n=3) included conventional tillage winter fallow, reduced tillage winter fallow, reduced tillage with sub-soiling, reduced tillage with a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop, reduced tillage with a tillage radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cover crop, zone tillage winter fallow, and zone tillage with a tillage radish cover crop. Experimental units (8.13-m wide by 153-m long) were separated by 3-m wide levees and planted with soybean at 345,935 seeds ha-1 and instrumented to mass balance irrigation water runoff volume. The final three year results will be presented to cover furrow advance time, runoff and infiltration volumes, irrigation application efficiency, and irrigation water use efficiency. Conservation Production Systems Influence on Selected Mid-Southern Furrow-Irrigation Properties