10 Ways to Save Water On Your Farm
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Photo by Thanh Nguyễn from Pexels
Every single farmer out there who runs land has to learn how to use it to its fullest capacity. This way, they can ensure that they get the best from the land and give the best back, too. One of the hardest things to do is to save water. A farm is a huge space and whether you are running a farm with animals or you are farming wheat and crops, you need to learn how to save water and use it to your advantage - especially when there are predicted droughts.
There are farmers out there who rely on groundwater reserves to ensure that they are able to get through a dry season. Knowing how you can save water will do your farm the world of good, and you can ensure that you get the very best for your money in the end. For example, you might choose to use the money you save on water to pay for solar installers and save money on your electricity, too. There are so many ways that you can save water in your farm and water savings will offer you a lot of built up reserves over time - and you might need it. Let’s take a look at how you can save water on your farm.
Invest in drip irrigation systems. These are the systems that deliver water right to the roots of the plants themselves. It works to reduce evaporation, and this is what you need to avoid with the spray watering systems. Timers can be used here, and these will help you to schedule watering for other parts of the day, which will reduce even more water loss. Properly installed, a drip irrigation system can work to reduce up to 80% more water than any other conventional irrigation system.
Capture and store. When you are looking to save water, consider how you can catch and store it. From rainwater tanks to building your own pont, you can rely on things like municipal wells to capture and store your water. When you properly manage this, you can also create the right habitat for wildlife at the same time. You can rely on ponds to help you to minimize the impact on the surrounding watershed. Storing water in a well is just a smart plan!
Schedule irrigation. Did you know that you have to look beyond how the water is delivered? You have to consider how often it’s delivered and how much is delivered at once. You can be smarter about water management simply by monitoring the forecast of the weather. You can use flood irrigation but choose to water overnight rather than through the day. This will help to slow down evaporation that usually occurs through the day, saving you water.
Choose the right crop species. Did you know that choosing the right crop species can make a huge difference to the water you save? Crop species that are native to fairly arid regions are often those that are tolerant when it comes to drought. There are other varieties of crops that are selected over time because of their lower water needs. Choosing better crops can often help!
You could dry farm. There are some farms out there that rely on dry farming to do more with their water. Dry farmers won’t often irrigate, as they rely mostly on soil moisture to produce the right crops rather than fully irrigating. There are special tiling practices that are essential here, and dry farming can often enhance the flavors of crops.
Move the livestock. If your farm is currently the home to different types of livestock, rotational grazing could be the answer for you. Managing grazing will make a difference to whether you have the right absorption in the field, decreasing water run off and ensuring that pastures continue to be resistant to drought.
Work on composting. If you use the right level of compost and mulch, you can ensure that you are saving water. Mulch works to conserve moisture in your farm, and the right organic materials like wood chips and straw will break right down into compost, which will continue the ability to retain water.
Get those crops covered up. If you cover crops you reduce the growth of weeds and increase the fertility of the soil and organic matter. This will all work to prevent erosion and compaction on your farm, which then allows the water to move freely and easily penetrate the soil. This will help to improve the water holding capacity and ensure that you have your water saving measures in place. You want to build healthy soil, and that means covering the crops and ensuring that you have everything in place to keep your crops happy and save water at the same time.
Have you heard of tillage? Conservation tillage works to use specialist equipment to till the soil only partially and leaves up to 30% of the vegetative crop residue on the surface. You can increase water absorption while reducing evaporation and compaction, adn this can go a long way to helping you to ensure that you are saving water on your farm.
Choose to go organic. One of the best ways for you to save water is to go organic on your farm. You might find that organic field growth will have a greater yield compared to conventional fields. You can also retain moisture in the soil, keeping it rich and healthy for years to come. Healthy soil packed with organic matter is going to serve as a sponge, and this sponge will deliver moisture to the plants and your farm will thrive as a result.
Saving water is particularly important if you are looking to ensure that you are saving money. Don't stress when droughts happen if you have the right water saved up and you are looking at more water conservation methods than ever before. It’ll work out that your farm is healthier as a result.
