When investing in new irrigation technologies (e.g., cost-share programs), it is important to understand what the benefits are for both the producer and the watershed. The various components of the water cycle help explain how changes at the field scale impact water resources at the watershed scale. Consumptive use of water is a particularly important topic for making this connection; however, consumptive use tends to be a difficult concept to grasp.

A new NebGuide addresses this need by providing a clear presentation of the topic of consumptive use in the context of irrigated crop production. In the NebGuide, guidelines are given for determining whether a new irrigation technology that may reduce water withdrawals for irrigation will also reduce consumptive use of water, resulting in more water stored in the watershed, available to other water users or for later use.

The new extension publication, “Impact of Irrigation Technologies on Water Use,” is available online.

The NebGuide was reviewed by Xin Qiao, Chuck Burr and Aaron Nygren.