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Central Illinois | Rice fields. The levees are on the contour as the vertical interval between levies is supposed on only be 0.2 foot max if I remember correctly. Even though it looks dead flat. The flood is mainly for weed control and the levies make sure the flood is uniform. The "plywood" is located where they cut notches in the levies to allow water to flow from one cut (between two levies) to the next cut. Using the phrase "elevation change" in that country is insane (joking) but there is elevation change. Traditionally flooding is started with upper cut. It filled then proceeded to fill the next lower cut going through the levies where they made the gates over the levy. Now many use side inlet irrigation where a long plastic tube(poly pipe) is stretched the length of the field and the low end of the pipe is crimped the upper end is connected the water source. Then openings are made in the poly pipe to outlet the water from the side of the cut. Those openings are made precisely based on the flow rate of the water source, acres between each levy and likely more variables. They have software the calculate the size they make the openings using a special tool. Folks from there can tell you much more. I haven't worked in rice country for a long time. I was always amazed at the water management and the evolution of the infrastructure to developed to improve water management. Flooded fields make the N management different and in flooded soils some forms of P become more available. Definitely weed control is another adventure! LOL other than that it is just like any other small grains! It is interesting. | |
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Arkansas fields
