One of the most critical water management concepts is to fill the soil with water until it reaches field capacity, measure evapotranspiration or soil moisture until a depletion trigger level is reached, and fill the soil again with water. Following this method of irrigation results in the best opportunity to have the healthiest plants. However, during drought, when irrigation restrictions are in place, your ability to perform basic water management activities is reduced or eliminated. Now, thanks to Jain Unity and ETwater and a new feature of the software called time restrictions, you can fully manage water during a drought.
The featured image above reflects a current water restriction today due to the drought in the West. How would you manage water under these circumstances? One of the first tools to look at is block days. In this case, using block days would result in not watering at all during the week.
The next choice would be to set a water window. This is also problematic. Your water window on Sunday would be from 6 pm until midnight. On Monday, midnight to 10 am, and you would miss the entire window in the evening. If your landscape had any size, you probably wouldn’t get all the water needed applied.
Time Restrictions
Using time restrictions, users set the times for no water, but all other times are available for water. In addition, each valve is measured separately, so zone-like drip can water outside the restrictions if allowed. Finally, time restrictions also work in managed groups, so you can set the restrictions for multiple jobs simultaneously, dramatically reducing the amount of time you spend customizing your software.
To find out where you can find time restrictions, how they work, and how you can view them, please take a look at the step-by-step video below.
July is Smart Irrigation Month, because it’s typically been the peak period of outdoor water usage in the United States, the non-profit Irrigation Association launched the annual Smart Irrigation Month observance in July 2005 to promote water efficiency through water-saving technologies. The Irrigation Association encourages the use of Smart Irrigation Systems.
This year in 2021, the Irrigation Association has announced that the theme for Smart Irrigation Month is “Smart irrigation. Sustainable solutions”. It was chosen to raise awareness of the technology solutions in both agriculture and landscape irrigation for meeting resource challenges we’re currently facing around the country. Despite the stories of drought and water scarcity dominating the news this summer, there’s still a lack of understanding by farmers, growers, municipalities, businesses, and property owners on viable options for adapting in response.
The appeal of smart irrigation systems for agriculture.
Modern irrigation technologies like Jain Logic™ equip farmers with the information they need to know when and how long to irrigate. They can input variables like crop water needs and soil type while scheduling programs that monitor local weather conditions and soil moisture.
Good data gives growers the information necessary to irrigate with precision, minimizing stress from over-or under-watering. Here is an article from Reason Farms, where they improved their yield with good data provided by AgTech. With a finger on the pulse of a crop’s water needs, crop quality is improved, and yields maximized for ‘more crop per drop.’
By only irrigating enough to reach the root zones of crops, excess water doesn’t run off into nearby streams. This water can leach crop nutrients and chemicals into freshwater sources and contaminate critical habitats.
Besides saving water and increasing yield, farmers can save on pumping energy costs and wear and tear their irrigation systems. And the higher yield and crop quality will contribute to increased profitability of the business.
We don’t know what the future holds, but we know that some places are becoming more drought-prone and may eventually have reduced access to water resources. So the sooner agriculture can move toward greater efficiency in growing our food, the more prepared we’ll be for whatever the future brings.
The clear benefits to investing in sustainable solutions for landscaping
“Smart” irrigation systems irrigate landscapes efficiently. The days of relying on an irrigation ‘clock’ timer and calendar are over.
The latest generation of smart irrigation systems access real-time and forecast weather data for applying the right amount of water at the right time of day.
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Without wasting water, these systems use technology to know when and how much to irrigate to:
Save water. Smart systems automatically suspend watering during rain, freezing, or high wind conditions. Careful scheduling minimizes evaporation and encourages water to soak in, reducing the total amount of water needed. In addition, preventing overwatering keeps plants healthier by encouraging stronger roots and discouraging weeds, disease, and fungus growth.
Save money. Smart systems can reduce your annual water bill by as much as 30-50 percent by preventing water waste. Plus, many local water providers offer rebates for purchasing specific smart controllers.
Save time. Once your site data is programmed into the smart system, the controller adjusts the watering schedule based upon weather conditions and soil moisture without manual intervention.
Add convenience. Smart controllers adapt to seasonal weather changes without requiring reprogramming. And their “set and forget” technology is perfect for complying with any local watering restrictions, as well as for frequent travelers and vacation or second homes.
And you may be able to retrofit your current irrigation system with a smart controller. One size does not fit all, so consult with a certified irrigation professional when you’re ready to upgrade to a smart irrigation system.
JAIN has been at the forefront of innovation in smart irrigation technologies, from JAIN Logic in agriculture that maximizes water-use efficiency for global food production to JAIN Unity in commercial landscaping that saves the most water for the good of the communities where we live. If you ever would like to explore the options for a smart irrigation technology upgrade, we hope you’ll think of JAIN. We’d be more than happy to speak with you and assist in meeting your water conservation objectives.
Jeff Klein is a fourth-generation Stockton farmer managing thousands of acres of farmland in California and he has used technology to battle drought. He understands excellent water management is necessary for the success of his farming operations. Water management as a service changed the way growers are producing food and help them adapt to variable field conditions.
This season Jeff Klein partnered with Jain Water Management Services to take advantage of soil moisture monitoring and satellite imaging to manage water. He sat down with us to discuss the benefits he receives and his outlook on water management for growers, and why he thinks technology is vital for the future success of California farming.
Technology to Battle Drought
For farming, water is crucial now, it is well over 100 degrees in Stockton and the Tracy Delta in early June, and crops use more water due to the heat. Jeff farms fruits, nuts, and vegetables, including almonds, grapes, asparagus, feed corn, and cherries.
He has riparian rights for water. According to the Water Education Foundation, riparian rights grant owners of the land that physically touches a water source have a right to use water from that source that has not been deemed appropriate by another party. Even with the grant of water, Jeff treats the situation like he could be cut off from water at any moment. “Maintaining moisture in the soil is a priority now,” Jeff tells us, “We are looking okay right now, but things could turn down quickly.”
How Is The Drought Impacting Crops?
Nut crops are going to be okay. They progressed quickly this year. The nuts are hardening off and have a good size. Next year’s crop is the one to worry about. Lots of people will have to limit or cutwater. In next year’s almond crop, we could see a significant impact.
For row crops, the effect is immediate. We will see smaller size fruits and vegetables across the board. Lots of what we grow is water weight. Less water means less size and less sugar.
What about prices?
Not much in this world drives the farmers’ prices higher. It’s amazing how cheap these products are right now, considering where we are with the conditions of the state. Potatoes, corn, and melons are cheap. The only thing decent right now is feed corn, grain corn. The run-up in prices is just inflation. Consumers won’t see much impact on prices unless the grocery store wants to charge more because they can.
Why Partner With Water Management Services From Jain Irrigation?
I signed up for water management services from Jain Irrigation because you can always learn more about water management. In the past, water management technology was installed on my farms, and there was no training or much help. With Jain Water Management Services, we have a partnership.
Great tools to see the water move through the soil, plus satellite imaging, working together to see water movement. Jain also provides forecasting schedules and recommends water schedules based on past weather conditions and forecasted weather. It has been helpful to see real-time water penetration. I am learning water can be saved if you are applying it correctly. I also learned a lot about the durations and frequency of watering.
Did you have to buy lots of equipment?
No, you pay a per-acre fee, and all the equipment (soil moisture sensors, telemetry units, flow sensors, and satellite imaging) is supplied and installed. Installing the hardware was half the battle. Jain worked with me to set up the software. Then you set up the parameters, and Jain was excellent at assisting me with the setup.
I trust walking into a field and determining if it has the right amount of water by throwing a shovel in the field. That’s great if you are irrigating a few acres, but when you work with thousands of acres and need to check water and moisture daily, you need more than a shovel. You can’t get behind in the water, especially this year, or you will have a financial impact that can be in the millions of dollars.
It took me a few months to observe the software and water content to get familiar with how it works, but I found the information invaluable once I learned. This is my third zoom ever. I am not a technology guy. I picked this software up reasonably quickly.
What Makes Jain Water Management Services Different?
It is easy to set up your dashboard and able to select what you want to see based on the field. Everything on a platform that is user-friendly and easy to navigate. What widgets work best for you.
You set up your own homepage for what you want.
We have some fields that are gravel, and water drops through quickly. Others have water tables about 2 feet below the surface. Jain Logic is easy to customize, so I can quickly view the crucial factors of the specific soil I’m dealing with. You need to know your soil and know your software accordingly.
I don’t take what Jain tells me as gospel. I have been doing it one way for years. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith and try it. What I have learned is the computer can see things I can’t see. Almonds, for example.
Trees look happy and healthy. They are doing well, but I have hull split in 10 days, so I need to spray and get it wet again. Then dry it down for harvest. What I didn’t know was what it looked like deep down. With the soil moisture sensors, I can see exactly how deep I am watering. I can have water at 30 inches but not 48, and where I really need water in two weeks is at 48 inches. Now I can see that and trust my trees are getting the proper amount of water before it was essentially an educated guess.
I have schedules now that help me move water as deep as I need to during the season.
I’ve learned shorter shots and higher frequencies allow me to push water to the exact depth I need at the proper time.
Every farmer knows you are not working for today. You are working for a week from now and always looking forward to what you need to do.
How does communication take place?
In-person and telephone. It could be zoom, but I don’t want to do zoom. I prefer to talk on the phone or meet in person.
How much time do you need to devote?
Minimal once everything is set up, emails and text once a week schedule. Once the probes are in and stations are running.
Check it in the morning when I wake up, the first thing I do in the morning.
I spend about 30 minutes checking what is happening in the field to see where the water is traveling and how the hot weather is impacting the water movement.
Jain sends a report every Friday. It covers last week’s performance and a schedule for next week’s water.
Advice to anyone sitting on the fence?
Just do it. You don’t have anything to lose. It’s Jain equipment, Jain setup, Jain even offers a money-back guarantee. There are no upfront costs.
You better be using every last drop of water you have as well as you can. It would be hard to do what we do without seeing how the water moves below the soil. Today, with this technology, we have a tool that helps us reduce water use while increasing yields. Water conditions are deteriorating in California. Jain Water Management Services offers the technology and the partnership to combat the water crisis. This is the future of farming in California.
If you would like to talk to an expert for Jain Water Management Services.
We would appreciate the opportunity to show you how technology can lower your costs and increase yields.
Checklist can help reduce water use in the garden yet keep landscape looking healthy
In San Diego, the colder winter months take a toll on irrigation systems. To ensure that your system gives you its best performance before the heavy watering of summer starts, here are six steps to take right now. Spring is a perfect time to perform maintenance because finding issues early in the season helps you save water, save money and improve the look of your landscape all summer long.
Proper care of your system includes additional inspections and services during the summer months, too. Establish a regular and routine maintenance schedule to keep your system working well and to minimize water waste.
Step 1: Visually inspect all your irrigation components to ensure that they will operate correctly when the water is turned on.
This is one of the most simple — and often neglected — steps. Review the system components regularly. Turn on all the stations weekly or after every mowing. Most controllers allow watering in a manual water mode. This turns on the water to each zone for a specific number of minutes and moves zone to zone. This gives you enough time to examine the system walking from zone to zone, noting problems to repair after the inspection.
Clogged heads, broken lines, or leaks will be detected early with regular inspections, which also significantly reduce the potential for water waste. To clean any clogged spray heads, unscrew them and rinse them in a bucket of water. Give the spray heads a good shaking, inspect for any debris in the screen, then screw them back on.
Step 2: Clean your filters.
When was the last time you cleaned your filters? A typical response to the question is — what filters? Clean filters are critical to the success of any irrigation system. Cleaning them is easy and should be performed regularly. For irrigation systems using municipal water, cleaning your filters once a month during the irrigation season is sufficient. You can remove the filter and clean it by hand. Flushing screen filters clean themselves and are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to reduce maintenance time. Many filters have flush outlets. Opening the outlet and letting the water flush the screen works well. Some filters open a flush valve every time the system is charged. This is especially helpful for dirty water applications.
Step 3: Check the controller.
Spring is a great time to reprogram your controller or replace a conventional device with a smart controller. The latter adjusts the watering schedule based on the weather. Check with your water agency to see if any water restrictions are in place, and adjust your controller accordingly. Confirm that the programs are set correctly, and look for ways to reduce water use.
Most water agencies offer rebates for smart controllers. The San Diego Water Authority offers incentives that start at $80 per controller for residential sites with less than one acre of landscaping. For larger residential sites, incentives start at $35 per station. Rebates cannot exceed the purchase price of the controllers. Visit SoCal WaterSmart or call (888) 376-3314 for more information. Make sure to look for the WaterSense label.
Step 4: Rinse it out.
For drip systems, now is a great time to remove your end caps and flush the system. Once you remove the end caps, run water through the system for two to three minutes to remove any debris that could clog your emission devices.
Step 5: Reduce your use.
Follow this checklist for ways to reduce water use in your garden. Remember, because drip irrigation places water right in the root zone, it is often twice as efficient as conventional spray-head irrigation.
Could nonfunctional turf areas be replaced with native or drought-tolerant shrubs?
Is subsurface irrigation feasible or desirable in any turf areas?
Can spray heads in shrub or color beds be converted to drip irrigation?
Can any of the high water use plants be replaced with low water use plants?
Do shrubs block heads and limit coverage?
Is the pressure of the system too high and causing too much misting and evaporation?
Are the controllers correctly programmed? Are run times too long? Can more days be programmed between waterings? Is watering scheduled at poor times, like midday?
Would rain sensors be beneficial? Do you shut all controllers off after rainfall?
Step 6: A few additional items to consider.
Good horticultural practices in tandem with good irrigation practices are essential for good water management. It is crucial to understand how much water your plant needs and how much water your system delivers. Your irrigation system needs changes and modifications as a landscape matures. For example, new plants require more frequent watering than mature plants. Finally, a regular maintenance program will extend the life of your system. Many consumers with good irrigation maintenance are getting 20 years out of their systems.
Make a regular inspection of your irrigation system part of your gardening routine, and you will be paid back with lower water bills and a more beautiful garden.
Water Shortage on rivers like the Colorado River, which supplies water to millions of people in the Western United States and Mexico, is projected to shrink to lows never seen before. These new low water levels may trigger the first-ever shortage declaration that affects agriculture and municipalities in Arizona and Nevada significantly.
What Is The Cause For The Low Levels & Water Shortage
States in the Western U.S. have been facing a megadrought for years. California has been on and off the drought cycle for years. Recently a drought was declared in 2006 that lasted until 2010. It was officially over, only to be declared again in 2011. That drought ran until 2017, when it was declared over only to be declared again in 2018, which continues to this day.
California and the West have been in drought for the last 16 years. Lack of monsoon rains last year combined with spotty snowfall this winter make the problem worse. In addition, with the soil so dry coming into the snow season, the melting snow is quickly absorbed by the soil. This, combined with increasing average daily temperatures, makes a significant negative impact on the water cycle.
Who Feels The Pain of Water Shortage
Because of the seven Western states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, California, and Nevada) 2019 agreement to conserve Colorado River water Arizona and Nevada will be the first to feel the pain. Arizona stands to lose roughly 18% of its supply. This will impact Central Arizona Project’s customers. The C.A.P. is a 336-mile system of aqueducts and power plants extending from Lake Havasu to Tucson. Farmers and ranchers in this area are on notice the continuing drought means substantial water cuts next year. This can result in fewer crops grown and higher prices for everyone. Everyone feels the pain of drought, but some more than others.
Electricity will feel the pain too. Less water moving through dams means less power generated from water. This is particularly hurtful because hydroelectric power is less expensive than electricity sold at electricity markets. In Nevada, for the communities supporting hydroelectric power, their pain will be more than most.
California is experiencing severe, extreme, or exceptional drought in 85% of the state. Last month state water resources director Karla Nemeth reduced projected water deliveries to 5% of the requested demand. Not a 5% reduction, but a 5% of request. Central Valley growers could benefit from a drought emergency, gaining water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. However, with a recall election looming, Governor Newsom will likely consider the political outcomes of his decision when making decisions.
What Can We Do To Help For Water Shortage
Please keep conserving. All of us together make a difference. If you need some ideas of how to conserve water, here is a link to 100 simple ways to save water. Support legislation promoting water conservation and motivating the purchase of water-conserving products. For example, today, you receive a rebate for purchasing smart controllers for your properties in many water districts. This stimulates the use of technology for water conservation. You can do lots more, and we would like to hear your suggestions in the comments. Let us know how you are making a difference.
Planting shrubs are expensive and take precious time to purchase and plant. Giving them the best chance for survival is essential for peace of mind in your garden. The right plant in the right place the first time has become a critical philosophy. Research and planning before you plant ensures success in your garden for shrubs and other plants.
Planting Shrubs: Selecting the Right Shrub
Selecting the “right” shrub for your location is the number one step for planting shrubs. When it comes to shrubs, getting the proper size matters. How much space the plant occupies at full growth is an important consideration. Will your shrub be seen, or will the plants around it cover it? Will your shrub stand out too much and cover too many other plants? Is it large enough at maturity to block out the neighbor’s garbage cans?
Another key step for planting shrubs is how well does the shrub grow in your area. What kind of temperature requirements does the plant need? What are the light requirements, and is your shrub going to be in full sun, a partial sun, or a full shade location? Finally, the moisture requirements, whether it’s going to be a drought-tolerant plant or going to be more of a tropical plant, needing a lot of water.
Dig A Hole
Digging a hole is more important than it sounds. Planning helps here too. Your hole needs to be one and a half times bigger than your root ball. Bigger if you are planting in compacted soil. So first, consider am I going to hit any irrigation lines, electrical, or water lines. What is beneath the ground you are digging?
This saves lots of repair time and expense. Be sure to dig the hole slightly less deep than the root ball. This keeps the crown of the plant (where the stems join the roots) slightly above the soil line to minimize crown rot. Crown rot is a disease caused by soil-borne fungus and is almost impossible to stop once it gets started.
Check For Circling Roots
Remove the shrub from the container (carefully tapping the rim a few times helps break the plastic pot from the soil) and check the roots carefully. Cut around the bottom of the root ball. You can take both soil, large and small roots. This helps the roots branch out in all directions when they hit the soil. This way, they have more sources for nutrients and water.
Place Your Shrub
Your plant has a good side. This is your best chance to find the good side and make sure it is facing the best direction in the garden. Once you are happy with the placement of your plant, backfill it with the soil you dug from the hole. Be sure to firm the soil lightly as you backfill to eliminate air pockets.
Time To Water
Slowly saturate the root ball and the surrounding soil with water. In the first year, you will have to keep the shrub well watered because the first year is essential to root growth.
The second-year is when you see growth above the soil line. If you have Jain Unity software and ETwater controllers, you can set an establishment schedule for your shrubs and determine how many weeks you want to provide extra water for your shrubs.
Unity is a powerful cloud-based software used with Jain ETwater smart controllers to deliver unparralled efficiency for water management.
Add Mulch
One of the most essential and final steps while planting shrubs is to add mulch. Using compost as mulch adds additional nutrients to your soil while providing cooling for your roots and reducing water evaporation. Use 2-3 inches over the root zone. Be sure to keep the compost away from the crown.
Investing extra time in the selection and planting of your shrubs pays off in the long run. Plants shrubs are expensive, and your time is too valuable to chance it. Following these six steps increases the probability of success in for planting shrubs in your garden.
If you liked this article, here is an interesting step-by-step article from BBC World Gardens on planting shrubs. If you enjoyed reading this article please share it with your friends, family and fellow gardeners around the world.
The Washington Post reported this week a giant reservoir that supplies a California county’s drinking water is nearly empty. Lake Cachuma, a giant reservoir built to hold Santa Barbara County’s drinking water, has all but vanished in California’s historic drought. It reached an all-time low this summer — 7 percent capacity. Santa Barbara, Montecito, Solvang and Buellton are popular cities that are impacted and all have done an excellent job with water conservation for years.
In May California suspended its mandatory statewide 25% water reduction for urban water use. The goal in lifting is to allow the local water agencies to take control of their water situation. After all who knows it better than they do, this is, in my opinion a good policy. Unfortunately many homeowners in California mistook the reversal from the State as a sign the drought is getting better. Articles like the one about Lake Cachuma better reflect the situation in Southern California.
For most of us all we have wanted to do since we were teenagers was control our destiny. Make our own choices and live with the outcomes of our choices. It’s time to start making serious decisions about water in California and the information below will help us make more informed decisions.
U. S. Drought Monitor
A resource I frequently use is the U. S. Drought Monitor. This page is a weekly map of drought conditions that is produced jointly by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. It provides a visual of drought conditions across the United States. If you want more specific data it allows you to click on regions and states to get more detail. So clicking on California shows you the specifics of the California drought. It also shows the history or trends for the last week, last three months and last year. This helps identify trends. You are either going into a drought or coming out of a drought.
Surface Water and Ground Water
To fully understand the drought in California you need to first understand the difference between surface water and ground water and how the two are interconnected and at times jointly managed. This report from U.C. Davis’ Center for Watershed Sciences clearly explains the two and their interconnection.
5 Tips to Manage Outdoor Water During the Drought
1.Implement irrigation system and component upgrades that increase water savings.
3.Aerate turf and add mulch around trees, shrubs and planting beds.
4.Prioritize areas that require maximum aesthetic value so water can be applied prudently.
5.Plan for the short-term, three year vision and long-term (10 year) needs of your property. This is all about how your property is going to look in 10 years compared to other properties. The value of your property depends on this plan.
Extra Credit – Weekly Colorado River Report
For those of you who really want to follow closely what is happening with water in the West you can view the weekly Colorado River report from the U.S Bureau of Reclamation. This report provides details on the conditions of water in the lower Colorado River which supplies water to California. The Colorado River is the principle resource for water in California and six other states. California receives an allocation of about 27% form the Colorado River, which is the largest allocation of water for any state.
I hope these resources help you to manage the California drought. I’m sure you have some favorite resources of your own and hope you will share them in the comments section. Please remember a 25% reduction is not difficult to reach. It requires several small changes helping prevent making big changes in the future.
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The spread of the Zika virus has caused a stampede of gardeners running to the nursery looking for plants that repel mosquitoes with the hope of lowering the risk of being infected with Zika.
It is true some plants do repel mosquitos, but unfortunately you are going to have to do more than just grow them in your garden to be successful at repelling mosquitoes. To take advantage of the mosquito repelling effects of plants you are going to have to boil, burn or rub them on your skin.
Burning or boiling the plants will help drive the mosquitos away for a short time. So if you are eating out in the garden with friends or just enjoying some quiet time after work burning some sage or rosemary should provide some added protection and for most the odor is pleasant.
With herbs it is okay to just rub the leaves on your skin. It’s best to try them in a small area first to make sure you are not allergic to the herb. This is a great natural way to protect against mosquitos.
Lavender
This plant is excellent go to plant in any garden. It is hearty, looks great, and has a beautiful scent. The only thing it doesn’t like is too much water.
Catnip
Catnip plants grow to 3 feet tall, with a spread of 1½-2 feet. In the summer and early fall, they produce 3″-4″ spikes of tiny white flowers spotted with pale purple.
Sage (Salvia)
This plant is tolerant of all kinds of soil. If you keep it in a sunny area it will do great, and it is drought tolerant too.
Rosemary
This plant works well as a ground cover, has a very pleasant scent and is also drought tolerant. It can stay in bloom year round so it is perfect for high visibility areas of the garden.
Additional ways to cut down on mosquitos and save water
Eliminate standing water in your garden. Mosquitoes lay eggs is as little water as a bottle cap. Eliminate the areas they can lay eggs, like saucers under plants, tarps, fountains and tarps.
Use fine wire mesh to keep mosquitos out of your rain barrels.
Zika is a serious safe issue for those people working outdoors in gardens. I believe it is going to take more than these plants to effectively protect yourself against the Zika virus. Here is a great article from the EPA concerning DEET the active ingredient found in many insect repellants.
So lets stay safe out there, but don’t let this pest keep us from enjoying gardens. If you enjoyed this article please consider subscribing to the blog or following me on Twitter @H2oTrends.
