Pre-Irrigation: Giving Yuma Crops a Strong Start
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) — A successful agricultural season can depend on what happens before a crop ever begins to grow above the soil.
According to University of Arizona Professor and Extension Specialist in Agronomy and Soil Science Dr. Jeffrey Silvertooth, one of the most vulnerable stages in a crop’s life cycle is stand establishment — when a seed germinates, emerges from the soil and develops into a healthy young plant.
One way growers help create the right conditions during that stage is through pre-irrigation.
Pre-irrigation involves applying water to a field before or around planting to create adequate moisture in the soil. Silvertooth says that moisture helps initiate the germination process and gives young plants access to the water they need as their root systems begin to develop.
“It’s important to understand that a seed is a living organism,” Silvertooth said. “It’s a living organism that actually is dormant, and it’s initiated or woken up by the presence of good temperature conditions in the soil and good water conditions.”
Once a seed absorbs water, it begins to germinate. One of the first developments is a small root that grows into the soil in search of additional water and nutrients.
Silvertooth describes three important stages during the beginning of a crop’s life: germination, early development and emergence, and stand establishment.
But emergence above the soil does not mean the plant is out of danger.
“When that little plant actually pushes up above the soil profile... it’s not out of the woods in terms of its danger at that point,” Silvertooth said. “That crop still requires water to be taken up from the soil through that little, small infant root system.”
Because young plants have small root systems, growers must carefully manage soil moisture around them. While an individual seedling may require relatively little water, the surrounding soil needs enough moisture to keep the developing roots from drying out.
Silvertooth compares this early stage of crop development to early childhood development, saying the right care can establish a strong foundation.
“Sometimes we can make the analogy like it’s early childhood development,” Silvertooth said. “We need to do it well, and that establishes a good foundation.”
For growers, that foundation can have implications throughout the entire growing season.
“If we don't have a good, healthy plant to start the season, we'll never finish the season with a healthy crop,” Silvertooth said.
Pre-irrigation is a common agricultural practice, but Silvertooth says its importance comes down to creating the soil conditions needed to help a crop get off to a healthy start.
