An official website of the United States government.
Irrigation, or water management, is the process of determining and controlling the volume, frequency and application rate of irrigation water in a planned, efficient manner.
On this page, find publications, data, research, tools, and other resources for farmers and researchers.
Selected Resources
-
Agricultural Production: Agricultural Irrigation [unl.edu]
A collection of articles, publications and tools about irrigation systems, crop water use and management practices to help optimize water use efficiency and protect the quality of water resources.
-
Irrigation and Water Use [ers.usda.gov]
Facts and figures about irrigation in the United States.
-
Irrigation in North Dakota [ndsu.edu]
Information about irrigation and chemigation workshops and research; crop water use maps and tables; irrigation and crop production; and the irrigation newsletter, Water Spouts.
-
Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch [sare.org]
Research on conservation options that address irrigation including soil management, plant management, and water management strategies.
-
Trends in Irrigated Agriculture Reveal Sector’s Ability to Adapt to Evolving Climatic, Resource, and Market Conditions
USDA's Amber Waves article on irrigation and water use .
-
Irrigation Water Management Conservation Standard Practice [nrcs.usda.gov]
Conservation Standard Practices are used in determining and controlling the volume, frequency, and application rate of irrigation water. They are applicable to all irrigated lands.
-
Microirrigation [epa.gov]
Access guides and videos about low-pressure, low-flow-rate type of irrigation that can reduce the likelihood of overwatering a landscape.
-
Microirrigation [nrcs.usda.gov, PDF 6.3MB]
National Engineering Handbook chapter on microirrigation and design procedures for the major types of MI systems.