Irrigation uniformity as related to optimum crop production — additional research is needed

Summary The fact that uniformity of infiltrated water has significant effects on crop yield and optimum water application has been well documented. However procedures for obtaining quantitative data on infiltrated water uniformity on a field scale which can appropriately be combined with crop-water production functions to quantify and establish optimum irrigation management have not been adequately developed and verified and justify further research. Matching the scale of measurement to root zone scale is conceptually important but has not been properly verified. Data on infiltration rates measured in the field which have been reported in the literature were combined with crop water production functions to illustrate that the effects of uniformity on yields can be large.