Traditional flood irrigation systems use far more water than microdrip irrigation.
An N-Drip system feeds water into a cotton field.
A canal with a flood irrigation system is on the right. For comparison, the cotton field on the left of the road is irrigated with N-Drip system.
N-Drip tubes feed water into rows of cotton.
A farm laborer performs maintenance work on the flood irrigation system. This labor is not required for the N-Drip system.
N-Drip system irrigating a cotton field.
A butterfly and bee pause on cotton flowers near a developing boll in a field irrigated with the N-Drip system.
Bill Perry stands in one of his cotton fields, irrigated with the N-Drip system. He mentioned that a huge benefit of the N-Drip system, in addition to the water conservation, is that it is far less labor intensive than traditional flood irrigation, which saves him significant labor costs.
Water flows into a flood irrigation canal on a farm in Tonopah, AZ.
The Colorado River is a major water source in the southwest USA which is increasingly managed as water becomes more scarce.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
Tubing from the N-Drip system left in a field of sorghum which was already harvested. The drip irrigation system was installed this year as a trial, and much of it has been removed following the harvest, but the farm hopes to expand their use of the system in coming seasons.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
Josh Moore, General Manager of CRIT Farm, walks on part of their irrigation and water system.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
The canal near a sorghum field has internal waterfalls to help create water pressure to feed the flood irrigation system.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
Tubing from the N-Drip system is left in a field of sorghum which was already harvested. The drip irrigation system was installed this year as a trial, and much of it has been removed following the harvest, but the farm hopes to expand their use of the system in coming seasons.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
Hay bales sit alongside a road on CRIT Farms. This hay had been ordered by a department of transportation to help with erosion near roads.
Colorado River Indian Reservation
Tubing from the N-Drip system is left in a field of sorghum which was already harvested. The drip irrigation system was installed this year as a trial, and much of it has been removed following the harvest, but the farm hopes to expand their use of the system in coming seasons.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
Josh Moore, General Manager of CRIT Farms, holds grains of sorghum leftover after the harvest.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
Canals formerly used in the flood irrigation system at CRIT Farms.
Colorado River Indian Reservation
Sunset along the Colorado River.
CRIT Farms, Colorado River Indian Reservation
