Irrigation is the application of water to land for the purpose of sustained production.

1. NEM (Policy) – Irrigation Irrigation is the application of water to land for the purpose of sustained production. In arid regions, irrigation provides the majority of crop water needs. (up to 30+ inches) In humid areas it is to supplement rainfall for withstanding drought or to ensure crop productivity. (6-12 inches in NC)

2. NRCS Irrigation Resources • NEH - Irrigation Guide (Part 652, 1997) • NEH - Section 15 - Irrigation (Part 623, 1991) • NEH - Chapter 15 – Irrigation (Part 650, EFH) • NRCS Conservation Practice Standards • Irrigation System, Microirrigation – 441 • Irrigation System, Surface and Subsurface – 443 • Irrigation System, Sprinkler - 442 • Irrigation Water Management - 449 • NRCS Irrigation Training Toolbox • NRCS Science & Technology Training Library • North Carolina NRCS Irrigation Guide

3. Irrigation Guide (NEH Part 652) Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 - Soils Chapter 3 - Crops Chapter 4 - Water Requirements Chapter 5 - Selecting an Irrigation Method Chapter 6 - Irrigation System Design Chapter 7 - Farm Distribution Components Chapter 8 - Project and Farm Irrigation Water Requirements Chapter 9 - Irrigation Water Management Chapter 10 - Conservation Management Systems and Irrigation Planning Chapter 11 - Economic Evaluations Chapter 12 - Energy Use and Conservation Chapter 13 - Quality of Water Supply Chapter 14 - Environmental Concerns Chapter 15 - Resource Planning and Evaluation Tools and Worksheets Chapter 16 - Special Use Tables, Charts, and Conversions Chapter 17 - Glossary and References

4. Section 15 - Irrigation (NEH Part 623) • http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/viewDirective.aspx?hid=21440 • Chapter 1 - Soil-Plant-Water Relationships • Chapter 2 - Irrigation Water Requirements • Chapter 4 - Border Irrigation • Chapter 5 - Furrow Irrigation • Chapter 7 - Trickle Irrigation • Chapter 8 - Irrigation Pumping Plants • Chapter 9 - Water Measurement • Chapter 11 - Sprinkle Irrigation • Chapter 12 - Land Leveling In revision (Micro Irrigation) • Chapter 15 – Irrigation (NEH Part 650, EFH) • http://directives.sc.egov.usda.gov/OpenNonWebContent.aspx?content=17552.wba • Chapter 15 - Irrigation

5. Draft version of Chapter 7 - Microirrigation

6. NRCS Science & Technology Training Library https://nrcs.sc.egov.usda.gov/st/ntsc_training/Shared%20Documents/Water.aspx

7. NRCS Irrigation Toolbox http://irrigationtoolbox.com/WebPages/Chapter%207.html

8. 2010 NC Supplements to the National Irrigation Guide • Based on 1976 NC NRCS Irrigation Guide http://www.google.com/search?q=nc+irirgation+guide&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

9. A very informative guide with many useful NC soil, climate, and crop specific tables. The Guide provides general planning, design, and management guidance on various methods of irrigation commonly used in NC. Extended periods of no rain (< 0.1”/day) that exceed 30 days have been noted in most NC rain gauge stations that have at least 50 years of data.

10. NC Cooperative Extension

11. Irrigation Societies in NC North Carolina IRRIGATION SOCIETY (NCSU) http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/topic/irrigation_society/join.htm Annual Meeting in November 2. Carolinas Irrigation Association (Turf Industry) Linked to Irrigation Association Certification http://www.carolinasirr.org/resources.html

12. Other References

13. USDA-NRCS Micro Irrigation Design Tool