2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey

Prepared by Joe Henggeler, Extension Agricultural Engineer
Commercial Agricultural Program


Average irrigated acreage of those surveyed in 2000: 873 acres
Average acreage planned for irrigation in 2001: 925 acres
6.0 % increase
18% of new irrigated land will be fixed pivots
12% of new irrigated land will be towable pivots
62% of new irrigated land will be poly-pipe
 2% of new irrigated land will be rigid pipe

I. Systems Used


Furrow, rigid pipe
4%

Center pivot, fixed
40%



Furrow, poly-pipe
30%

Center pivot, towable
10%



Furrow, poly-pipe using surge
30%

Basin
5%



II. Irrigation Costs
1) Fuel:




LP Gas

$13.07/acre

(increase of 13.5%)



Diesel

$10.78/acre

(decrease of 19.5%)



Electric

$ 9.57/acre

(decrease of 19.3%)



2) Maintenance and Repairs:



Table 1. Maintenance and Repair Cost, Bootheel of Missouri, 2000


 
Per Farmer
Per Well  
Per Acre  



Wells
$1,627
$131.01
$1.45



Pumps
$1,293
$90.96
$1.01



System
(average all types)
$2,454
---
$2.96



Total
$5,374
---
$5.41



Note:  90.3 acres/well site
         11.0 wells per farmer

III. Irrigation Scheduling
The percentage of corn, cotton, and soybean acreage using either Arkansas Scheduler computer program or Woodruff charts was 18%. Overall scheduling produced 7 bu/ac more corn and 9 bu/ac more double crop soybeans, but 47 lbs/ac less cotton lint and 4 bu/ac less full season soybeans. The full-season soybean crop was unusual this year, and yields were less then what many people had anticipated prior to combining the fields. It may have been due to the high temperatures in late summer. In this scenario, scheduling did not help. Results can be seen in Table 2.

Table 2. Yields of Crops Based on Irrigation Scheduling Method Employed

Scheduling Methodologies Difference between scheduling & not scheduling

Crop No scheduling method Ark. Scheduler computer program Woodruff irrigation charts

Corn 169.8 bu/ac
73% of acreage
n = 58 159.0 bu/ac
7% of acreage
n = 5 185.6 bu/ac
20% of acreage
n = 10 +6.9 bu/ac

Cotton 736.8 lbs/ac
91% of acreage
n = 29 750.0 lbs/ac
2% of acreage
n = 1 630.0 lbs/ac
7% of acreage
n = 1 -46.8 lbs/ac

Soybean 43.1 bu/ac
86% of acreage
n = 48 38.8 bu/ac
6% of acreage
n = 4 40.0 bu/ac
8% of acreage
n = 3 -3.8 bu/ac

Double Crop Soybean 37.6 bu/ac
88% of acreage
n = 19 47.5 bu/ac
8% of acreage
n = 2 45.0 bu/ac
3% of acreage
n = 1 +9.1 bu/ac

IV. Irrigation Management
Growers were asked if they had changed their management style in the last recent years. Specifically, were they (1) starting to irrigate earlier in the season, (2) applying more water during the season, and (3) watering later into the season. The response to the question on starting to water earlier is seen in Figure 1, and is reported as relative yields (the average crop yield from the survey = 1.0, values above 1.0 were proportionally higher then average, and thus less then 1.0 were less then average). Except in double crop soybeans, those respondents who stated that they were beginning to water earlier did the best, and those that were starting water did the worst.

Fig. 1. Relative corn, cotton, soybean, and double-crop soybean yields based on when the first irrigation of the season was applied. The proportion of corn growers watering either earlier, the same, or later was 56%, 36%, 8%, respectively. For cotton: 59%, 39%, and 3%. For soybean: 60%, 29%, and 12%. For double-crop soybean: 39%, 48%, and 13%.

V. Iron in Irrigation Water
Growers reported that most of their wells had water with iron content, but most thought that yields were not compromised. Results showed that those respondents who reported that few or non of their wells had iron in them, had approximately % higher yields on corn, soybeans, and double-crop soybeans. It most be noted that the sample from which the "few or none of the wells" was small.

Do your wells have high iron content?

None 9%

About half 9%

Most of them 82%

Are your yields being effected?

Helps yield 4%

No effect 83%

Hurts yield 14%

Is iron in your wells? Corn Soybean D.C. Soybean

None or few 189 (n = 4) 46 (n = 5) 44 (n = 2)

Half or most wells 170 (n = 69) 42 (n = 48) 38 (n = 20)

VI. Crop Cultural Practices

Deep-ripped: 45% (88%, 39% & 0% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)

Limed: 50% (48%, 55% & 33% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)

Laser-leveled: 55% (37%, 60% & 71% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)

Minimum till: 56% (53%, 61%, 51% & 90% for corn, cotton, soybean and d.c. soybeans, respectively)

Use of drain furrows: 55% (37%, 60% & 71% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)

Table A. Corn yield in bushels per acre for various soil types as affected by minimum tilling, deep ripping, liming, lasering, and use of surface drains, Southeast Missouri, 2000.

Minimum Till Deep Ripped Limed Lasered Drain Furrow
Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Clay/Gumbo 168.1
n = 8 174.6
n = 5 182.0
n = 4 165.6
n = 9 168.6
n = 7 173.0
n = 6 165.6
n = 8 178.6
n = 5 171.3
n = 6 170.0
n = 7

Sand 165.0
n = 10 172.1
n = 15 170.1
n = 18 172.9
n = 7 172.4
n = 18 167.7
n = 7 175.1
n = 7 169.2
n = 18 178.5
n = 11 164.9
n = 14

Silt 173.4
n = 20 168.4
n = 11 168.2
n = 18 176.4
n = 13 171.4
n = 18 171.8
n = 13 176.5
n = 20 162.8
n = 11 168.2
n = 13 174.1
n = 18

Other 172.0
n = 3 177.0
n = 1 172.0
n = 3 173.3
n = 1 173.3
n = 4 ---
165.7
n = 3 196.0
n = 1 175.5
n = 2 171.0
n = 2

AVERAGE 170.2
n = 41 171.4
n = 32 170.54
n = 43 172.24
n = 30 171.53
n = 47 170.70
n = 26 173.09
n = 38 169.30
n = 35 168.1
n = 8 168.1
n = 8

AVERAGE YIELD CHANGE -1.16 -1.70 0.82 3.80 2.67

Table B. Cotton yield in pounds of lints per acre for various soil types as affected by minimum tilling, deep ripping, liming, lasering, and use of surface drains, Southeast Missouri, 2000.

Minimum Till Deep Ripped Limed Lasered Drain Furrow
Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Clay/Gumbo 788.5
n = 4 815.0
n = 2 1008.0
n = 1 735.7
n = 5 902.0
n = 1 771.0
n = 5 675.0
n = 1 846.7
n = 5 819.0
n = 2 788.5
n = 4

Sand 712.8
n = 10 782.0
n = 2 673.8
n = 8 735.7
n = 5 724.6
n = 7 726.8
n = 5 776.5
n = 6 664.0
n = 6 667.3
n = 3 747.1
n = 9

Silt 768.8
n = 9 606.0
n = 4 676.7
n = 11 949.5
n = 2 661.7
n = 6 767.6
n = 7 750.6
n = 8 667.6
n = 5 678.2
n = 6 753.2
n = 7

Other ---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---
---

AVERAGE 747.88
n = 23 702.25
n = 8 692.11
n = 20 820.86
n = 11 710.31
n = 14 756.60
n = 17 755.92
n = 15 722.22
n = 16 700.83
n = 11 757.53
n = 20

AVERAGE YIELD CHANGE 45.63 -128.76 -46.29 33.70 -56.69

Table C. Soybean yield in bushels per acre for various soil types as affected by minimum tilling, deep ripping, liming, lasering, and use of surface drains, Southeast Missouri, 2000.

Minimum Till Deep Ripped Limed Lasered Drain Furrow
Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Clay/Gumbo 38.9
n = 11 40.1
n = 7 43.7
n = 6 37.3
n = 12 43.1
n = 9 35.7
n = 9 42.5
n = 8 36.9
n = 10 38.2
n = 12 41.81
n = 6

Sand 38.1
n = 7 44.0
n = 3 38.0
n = 3 40.2
n = 7 37.7
n = 4 40.3
n = 6 43.6
n = 6 34.3
n = 4 41.7
n = 3 38.3
n = 7

Silt 46.2
n = 10 48.3
n = 11 47.91
n = 9 46.7
n = 12 51.2
n = 11 43.6
n = 10 49.5
n = 14 43.3
n = 7 45.3
n = 12 50.4
n = 9

Other 44.0
n = 5 37.0
n = 1 37.0
n = 2 47.5
n = 4 44.0
n = 5 37.0
n = 1 44.0
n = 4 37.0
n = 2 44.0
n = 3 37.0
n = 3

AVERAGE 41.72
n = 33 44.59
n = 22 44.07
n = 20 42.27
n = 35 45.58
n = 29 39.85
n = 26 45.96
n = 32 38.40
n = 23 41.97
n = 30 43.34
n = 25

AVERAGE YIELD CHANGE -2.87 1.80 5.73 7.55 -1.37

Table D. Double-crop soybean yield in bushels per acre for various soil types as affected by minimum tilling, deep ripping, liming, lasering, and use of surface drains, Southeast Missouri, 2000.

Minimum Till Deep Ripped Limed Lasered Drain Furrow
Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

Clay/Gumbo 42.3
n = 4 44.0
n = 2 ---
42.8
n = 6 ---
42.8
n = 6 ---
42.8
n = 6 42.3
n = 4 44.0
n = 2

Sand 36.80
n = 9 ---
37.0
n = 6 36.3
n = 3 39.1
n = 7 28.5
n = 2 34.5
n = 2 37.4
n = 7 39.3
n = 6 31.7
n = 3

Silt 42.74
n = 3 30.0
n = 1 40.01
n = 3 40.0
n = 1 40.0
n = 4 ---
45.0
n = 1 38.3
n = 3 36.0
n = 2 44.0
n = 2

Other 35.7
n = 3 ---
35.0
n = 1 36.0
n = 2 35.01
n = 1 36.0
n = 2 35.0
n = 1 36.0
n = 2 36.0
n = 2 35.0
n = 1

AVERAGE 38.72
n = 19 39.33
n = 3 37.70
n = 10 39.81
n = 12 39.06
n = 12 38.58
n = 10 37.25
n = 4 39.19
n = 18 39.21
n = 14 38.26
n = 8

AVERAGE YIELD CHANGE -0.62 -2.11 0.48 -1.94 0.95

Table 2.-- 2000 Bootheel Irrigation Results

CORN COTTON SOY DC SOY MILO

Number Reported 73 31 55 22 1

Acres Reported 6833 680 5739 2357 100

# of Irrigations, furrow

# of Irrigations, pivot

Irrigated Yield 171 bu 733 lbs 43 bu 39 bu ---

Dryland Yield --- --- --- --- ---

Increase over Dryland --- --- --- --- ---

Table 3.-- 1987-2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey
Yields for Irrigated vs Dryland Crops and their Breakeven Costs

Year Irrig. Corn

(bu) Non-Irrig. Corn

(bu) Irrig. Soybeans

(bu) Non-Irrig. Soybeans

(bu) Irrig. DC Soybeans

(bu) Non-Irrig. DC Soybeans

(bu) Irrig. Cotton

(lbs) Non-Irrig. Cotton

(lbs) Irrig. Milo

(bu) Non-Irrig. Milo

(bu)

1987 149 121 44 32 33 19 -- -- 110 101

1988 148 88 39 32 36 27 877 718 108 91

1989 152 117 37 27 29 23 807 605 92 77

1990 146 86 44 29 38 31 768 528 82 32

1991 143 84 42 29 43 30 917 678 105 69

1992 189 135 48 37 44 32 1029 990 121 108

1993 137 95 44 31 41 30 722 546 113 75

1994 162 123 47 38 43 37 933 779 101 93

1995 156 124 43 29 42 31 637 422 90 66

1996 170 124 43 32 42 25 905 719 98 63

1997 155 103 41 28 42 31 865 723 110 70

1998 140 95 37 22 40 27 692 542 82 ---

1999 163 121 49 21 43 17 787 471 --- ---

2000 171
($ 2.48) 135**
($ 2.40) 43
($ 6.77) 33**
($ 7.07) 39
($ 7.46) 27**
($ 8.66) 733
($ 0.67) --- 140
($ 2.14) ---

Avg 156 111 43 30 40 28 828 642 101 77

* Break-even price; after D. Reinbott. 2000. Crop Budgets: Southeast Missouri. Un-numbered report. University of Missouri Outreach & Extension Service. Scott County.
** Estimates of dryland yield from survey taken at a Cape Girardeau educational meeting.

Table 5.-- Irrigated Full-Season Soybeans Yield
2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey
Showing # of Irrigations & Average Depth Applied

Soil Type Fixed Pivot Towable Pivot Rigid Pipe Poly-pipe Poly-pipe with surge Average

Sand 35.5
(10.0@0.9")
n = 2 26.0
(10.0@0.9")
n = 1 --- 41.3
(10.0@0.9")
n = 5 46.5
(2.0@7.0")
n = 2 44.00
n = 3

Silt 42.5
(13.0@1.0")
n = 4 45.0
(12.0@0.7")
n = 1 47.3
(4.0@6.0")
n = 3 49.1
(10.0@0.9")
n = 13 --- 50.89
n = 9

Clay/Gumbo 35.1
(10.0@0.9")
n = 7 33.05
(10.0@0.9")
n = 2 --- 45.5
(10.0@0.9")
n = 6 41.3
(4.3@3.7")
n = 3 49.00
n = 6

Other --- 00.0
(10.0@0.9")
n = 2 43.5
(10.0@0.9")
n = 2 37.0
(10.0@0.9")
n = 1

Average 37.46
n = 13
34.25
n = 4
47.33
n = 3
46.30
n = 26
42.33
n = 6
49.11
n = 18

furrow users with surge = 42.3 bu/ac (n=6)
furrow users without surge = 46.6 bu/ac (n=10)

Table 7.-- Irrigated Double-Crop Soybeans Yield
2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey
Showing # of Irrigations & Average Depth Applied

Soil Type Fixed Pivot Towable Pivot Rigid Pipe Poly-pipe Poly-pipe with surge Average

Sand 39.8
(14.5@0.6")
n = 6 30.7
(14.5@0.6")
n = 3 --- --- --- 41.50
n = 4

Silt --- 36.0
(7.3@0.9")
n = 2 43.0
(10.0@0.9")
n = 1 --- 45.0
(14.5@0.6")
n = 1 43.55
n = 9

Clay/Gumbo 42.3
(6.5@1.0")
n = 4 --- 44.0
(14.5@0.6")
n = 2 --- --- 43.00
n = 2

Other 45.7
(6.5@1.0")
n = 3 --- 38.86
n = 22

Average 39.62
n = 13
32.80
n = 5
43.67
n = 3
45.00
n = 1
42.80
n = 15

furrow users with surge = 47.8 bu/ac (n = 4)
furrow users without surge = 41.0 bu/ac (n = 11)

Table 9.-- Irrigated Corn Yield
2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey
Showing # of Irrigations & Average Depth Applied

Soil Type Fixed Pivot Towable Pivot Rigid Pipe Poly-pipe Poly-pipe with surge Average

Sand 172.6
(8.0@0.8")
n = 14 143.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 1 --- 166.7
(8.0@0.8")
n = 7 181.7
(8.0@0.8")
n = 3 132.00
n = 2

Silt 163.6
(8.5@0.7")
n = 5 167.5
(9.5@4.1")
n = 2 176.2
(3.0@?)
n = 5 172.2
(8.0@0.8")
n = 14 175.0
(5.6@1.8")
n = 5 170.93
n =14

Clay/Gumbo 172.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 3 175.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 1 185.0
(6.0@?)
n = 2 148.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 4 190.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 2 120.00
n = 1

Other 160.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 2 196.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 1 --- 177.0
(8.0@0.8")
n = 1 --- 171.26
n = 73

Average 169.88
n = 24
169.80
n = 5
178.71
n = 7
167.19
n = 26
180.00
n = 10
163.36
n = 17

Table 11.-- Irrigated Cotton Yield
2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey
Showing # of Irrigations & Average Depth Applied

Soil Type Fixed Pivot Towable Pivot Rigid Pipe Poly-pipe Poly-pipe with surge Average

Sand 605.3
(4.0@6.0")
n = 3 --- --- 708.0
(4.0@6.0")
n = 6 874.3
(6.0@2.0")
n = 3 833.33
n = 3

Silt 728.0
(4.0@6.0")
n = 3 --- --- 676.0
(4.0@6.0")
n = 7 809.0
(4.0@6.0")
n = 3 650.00
n = 1

Clay/Gumbo 819.0
(4.0@6.0")
n = 4 --- --- 902.0
(4.0@6.0")
n = 1 675.0
(4.0@6.0")
n = 1 ---

Average 704.75
n = 10
--- --- 705.69
n = 14
817.86
n = 14
787.48
n = 4

Furrow, rigid pipe	4%	Center pivot, fixed	40%
Furrow, poly-pipe	30%	Center pivot, towable	10%
Furrow, poly-pipe using surge	30%	Basin	5%

LP Gas	$13.07/acre	(increase of 13.5%)
Diesel	$10.78/acre	(decrease of 19.5%)
Electric	$ 9.57/acre	(decrease of 19.3%)

Table 1. Maintenance and Repair Cost, Bootheel of Missouri, 2000
	Per Farmer	Per Well	Per Acre
Wells	$1,627	$131.01	$1.45
Pumps	$1,293	$90.96	$1.01
System (average all types)	$2,454	---	$2.96
Total	$5,374	---	$5.41

Table 2. Yields of Crops Based on Irrigation Scheduling Method Employed
	Scheduling Methodologies			Difference between scheduling & not scheduling
Crop	No scheduling method	Ark. Scheduler computer program	Woodruff irrigation charts	Difference between scheduling & not scheduling
Corn	169.8 bu/ac 73% of acreage n = 58	159.0 bu/ac 7% of acreage n = 5	185.6 bu/ac 20% of acreage n = 10	+6.9 bu/ac
Cotton	736.8 lbs/ac 91% of acreage n = 29	750.0 lbs/ac 2% of acreage n = 1	630.0 lbs/ac 7% of acreage n = 1	-46.8 lbs/ac
Soybean	43.1 bu/ac 86% of acreage n = 48	38.8 bu/ac 6% of acreage n = 4	40.0 bu/ac 8% of acreage n = 3	-3.8 bu/ac
Double Crop Soybean	37.6 bu/ac 88% of acreage n = 19	47.5 bu/ac 8% of acreage n = 2	45.0 bu/ac 3% of acreage n = 1	+9.1 bu/ac

Is iron in your wells?	Corn	Soybean	D.C. Soybean
None or few	189 (n = 4)	46 (n = 5)	44 (n = 2)
Half or most wells	170 (n = 69)	42 (n = 48)	38 (n = 20)

Deep-ripped:	45%	(88%, 39% & 0% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)
Limed:	50%	(48%, 55% & 33% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)
Laser-leveled:	55%	(37%, 60% & 71% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)
Minimum till:	56%	(53%, 61%, 51% & 90% for corn, cotton, soybean and d.c. soybeans, respectively)
Use of drain furrows:	55%	(37%, 60% & 71% for sand, silt & clay , respectively)

Table A. Corn yield in bushels per acre for various soil types as affected by minimum tilling, deep ripping, liming, lasering, and use of surface drains, Southeast Missouri, 2000.
	Minimum Till		Deep Ripped		Limed		Lasered		Drain Furrow
	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No
Clay/Gumbo	168.1 n = 8	174.6 n = 5	182.0 n = 4	165.6 n = 9	168.6 n = 7	173.0 n = 6	165.6 n = 8	178.6 n = 5	171.3 n = 6	170.0 n = 7
Sand	165.0 n = 10	172.1 n = 15	170.1 n = 18	172.9 n = 7	172.4 n = 18	167.7 n = 7	175.1 n = 7	169.2 n = 18	178.5 n = 11	164.9 n = 14
Silt	173.4 n = 20	168.4 n = 11	168.2 n = 18	176.4 n = 13	171.4 n = 18	171.8 n = 13	176.5 n = 20	162.8 n = 11	168.2 n = 13	174.1 n = 18
Other	172.0 n = 3	177.0 n = 1	172.0 n = 3	173.3 n = 1	173.3 n = 4	---	165.7 n = 3	196.0 n = 1	175.5 n = 2	171.0 n = 2
AVERAGE	170.2 n = 41	171.4 n = 32	170.54 n = 43	172.24 n = 30	171.53 n = 47	170.70 n = 26	173.09 n = 38	169.30 n = 35	168.1 n = 8	168.1 n = 8
AVERAGE YIELD CHANGE	-1.16		-1.70		0.82		3.80		2.67

Table 3.-- 1987-2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey Yields for Irrigated vs Dryland Crops and their Breakeven Costs
Year	Irrig. Corn (bu)	Non-Irrig. Corn (bu)	Irrig. Soybeans (bu)	Non-Irrig. Soybeans (bu)	Irrig. DC Soybeans (bu)	Non-Irrig. DC Soybeans (bu)	Irrig. Cotton (lbs)	Non-Irrig. Cotton (lbs)	Irrig. Milo (bu)	Non-Irrig. Milo (bu)
1987	149	121	44	32	33	19	--	--	110	101
1988	148	88	39	32	36	27	877	718	108	91
1989	152	117	37	27	29	23	807	605	92	77
1990	146	86	44	29	38	31	768	528	82	32
1991	143	84	42	29	43	30	917	678	105	69
1992	189	135	48	37	44	32	1029	990	121	108
1993	137	95	44	31	41	30	722	546	113	75
1994	162	123	47	38	43	37	933	779	101	93
1995	156	124	43	29	42	31	637	422	90	66
1996	170	124	43	32	42	25	905	719	98	63
1997	155	103	41	28	42	31	865	723	110	70
1998	140	95	37	22	40	27	692	542	82	---
1999	163	121	49	21	43	17	787	471	---	---
2000	171 ($ 2.48)	135** ($ 2.40)	43 ($ 6.77)	33** ($ 7.07)	39 ($ 7.46)	27** ($ 8.66)	733 ($ 0.67)	---	140 ($ 2.14)	---
Avg	156	111	43	30	40	28	828	642	101	77

Table 5.-- Irrigated Full-Season Soybeans Yield 2000 Bootheel Irrigation Survey Showing # of Irrigations & Average Depth Applied
Soil Type	Fixed Pivot	Towable Pivot	Rigid Pipe	Poly-pipe	Poly-pipe with surge	Average
Sand	35.5 (10.0@0.9") n = 2	26.0 (10.0@0.9") n = 1	---	41.3 (10.0@0.9") n = 5	46.5 (2.0@7.0") n = 2	44.00 n = 3
Silt	42.5 (13.0@1.0") n = 4	45.0 (12.0@0.7") n = 1	47.3 (4.0@6.0") n = 3	49.1 (10.0@0.9") n = 13	---	50.89 n = 9
Clay/Gumbo	35.1 (10.0@0.9") n = 7	33.05 (10.0@0.9") n = 2	---	45.5 (10.0@0.9") n = 6	41.3 (4.3@3.7") n = 3	49.00 n = 6
Other	---	00.0 (10.0@0.9") n = 2		43.5 (10.0@0.9") n = 2	37.0 (10.0@0.9") n = 1
Average	37.46 n = 13	34.25 n = 4	47.33 n = 3	46.30 n = 26	42.33 n = 6	49.11 n = 18