During June, it is crucial to provide the right amount of water to your crops for healthy growth. This article will share some simple tips to help you manage irrigation effectively and ensure your plants get the water they need.
In some years, spring rainfall replenishes the soil's water lost during activities like tilling, planting cover crops, and removing weeds. However, if spring rain is insufficient, it can be challenging to manage your crops, especially when they struggle to develop deep root systems due to a lack of moisture. This is where proper irrigation comes in!
If you are in Michigan, you might have planted your crops a bit later than usual, which means they may not be as developed as they should be during the irrigation season. In such cases, it is important to provide more frequent irrigation to help your crops grow.
Tips for June Crop Irrigation:
1. Monitor Soil Moisture:
- Regularly assess soil moisture levels to determine if your crops require irrigation.
- Conduct a simple "feel and look" test by taking a soil sample and squeezing it to check moisture content.
- Compare the soil sample with reference photographs to determine if it is too dry or adequately moist.
2. Understand Crop Water Needs:
- Different crops have varying water requirements at different growth stages.
- Young developing crops like corn (V4 to V8 stage) typically need 0.5 to 0.8 inches of water per week.
- Soybeans in the V1 and V2 stage generally require 0.4 to 0.6 inches of water per week.
- Fully grown crops like winter wheat and forages may need 1.5 to 2 inches of water per week.
3. Use Reference Potential Evapotranspiration (rPET):
- Determine the water needs of healthy grass by using rPET as a reference.
- Check the rPET estimates for your region to understand the expected water demand.
- The MSU Enviroweather network provides rPET estimates and related tools for different locations.
4. Apply Irrigation to Make Up for Water Deficit:
- If rainfall from the previous week is insufficient, provide additional irrigation to compensate for the deficit.
- Prevent your crops from depleting the soil moisture reserve by ensuring they have enough water for healthy growth.
5. Avoid Over- or Under-Irrigation:
- Apply irrigation water in volumes suitable for the crop's rooting depth.
- For early-stage crops like corn at the V6 stage, limit irrigation to prevent water from penetrating below the effective root zone.
- However, ensure the applied water is sufficient to meet crop needs and avoid making numerous small applications.
6. Pay Attention to Signs of Drought Stress:
- Watch for indicators of drought stress, such as cupping and flipping of leaves in soybeans.
- These responses help plants conserve water by reducing light interception.
- Be aware that weeds may still thrive under dry conditions, competing with your crops for water.
By following these straightforward tips, we can optimize your irrigation practices and provide your crops with the necessary water for healthy growth. Remember to monitor soil moisture, understand crop water requirements, and make adjustments based on weather conditions. With proper irrigation management, we can set your crops up for success and achieve productive yields.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-songbird839
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Hay & Forage