By Ross Greene
I have received a lot of questions about the best way to manage irrigation during extremely hot conditions. I told someone recently that science tells me one thing intuition tells me another. I think we have to find a balance in between the two. It’s difficult to have a one size fits all answer because of planting date, soil type, soil conditions, recent rainfall or lack thereof, and irrigation system capacity. I am trying to bring all of that into perspective and provide some recommendations that will at least give you something to consider.
Forecasts across much of Georgia are calling for an extended period of high temperatures, with daytime highs approaching or exceeding 100°F in some areas. In combination with these extreme conditions, there are no guaranteed chances of rain across the state especially as we move into the week of August 16th. Unfortunately, this extreme heat is arriving at a critical time for many of Georgia’s Cotton and Peanut acres. Many fields are currently at or near peak crop water demand, when adequate soil moisture is particularly important for protecting yield potential. At the same time, soil moisture reserves deeper in the profile remain limited or have been recently depleted in many areas following dry conditions earlier this season. The combination of peak crop water demand, depleted soil moisture, and extreme temperatures could make the next several days especially challenging for irrigation management.
Source : uga.edu