Converting Seepage Irrigation into Center Pivot Irrigation to Save Water for Commercial Snap Bean Production in Southwest Florida

A commercial snap bean (var. ‘Caprice’) trial was conducted to determine water savings from conversion of seepage into overhead irrigation. This trial was conducted on Jones Potato Farm, Parrish, Florida from February 2014 to April 2014. There were two treatments including seepage and center pivot with four replications. Water flow meters and soil moisture sensors were employed to measure water usage and monitor soil moisture, temperature, and electrical conductivity. Rainfall during the growing season was recorded with a rain gauge at each of the treatments. Biomass, yields, and the width/length of 30 snap beans were measured at harvest. The yield was significantly higher in seepage with an average of 14527.3 ± 709 lb/acre than in center pivot with an average of 8851.8 ± 281 lb/acre. Seepage irrigation used 118,139 gallons/acre (4.4 acre-inches) while center pivot irrigation used 50,090 gallons/acre (1.8 acre-inches). Center pivot irrigation saved 57.6% (68,049 gallons/acre). This particular trial shows that overhead irrigation had 39% lower in bean yields. This is likely due to the use of an established fertilizer program for seepage irrigation that has been used for decades. This fertilizer program uses most of the nitrogen fertilizer up front. However, this program is not suitable for overhead irrigation. To improve bean yields where overhead irrigation is used, fertigation should be considered.  Further research using fertigation is planned.