When should you retrofit your center pivot irrigation system?
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Irrigation systems, like any other equipment, require regular maintenance and periodic retrofitting to operate at their full capacity. Manufacturers typically recommend replacing sprinkler packages every 7 to 10 years. Over the years, sprinklers can be worn out or clogged with debris and mineral deposits, leading to reduced irrigation uniformity.
Both under- and over-irrigation cause issues in production. Over-irrigation may cause water runoff, leaching water and nutrients below the root zone, while under-irrigation can reduce crop yield and grain quality. According to the MSU irrigation team, improving irrigation uniformity by 20% can save between $420 and $1,617 in energy costs for a 100-acre irrigated field.
The Irrigation System Retrofit Decision Support Tool helps farmers evaluate retrofitting sprinkler packages. This tool estimates water and energy savings after a retrofit, as well as the payback period for the initial investment.
The overall return on retrofit investment depends on two key factors:
- Energy savings: achieved through improved uniformity. Energy savings depend on the uniformity levels before and after the retrofit, as well as the prevailing energy prices.
- Initial retrofit costs: determined by the size of the irrigation system, the type or brand of the sprinkler package and the associated labor costs for installation.
Note: This tool does not consider potential yield benefits from improved irrigation uniformity. Therefore, its calculations represent a conservative, lower-bound estimate of the benefits of retrofitting the system.
