TY - JOUR AU - Schwankl, Larry AU - Prichard, Terry AU - Hanson, Blaine R. AU - Wellman, IIene TI - Costs of pressurized orchard irrigation vary with system design JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 1999/09/01 VL - 53 IS - 5 SP - 14 EP - 20 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.3733/ca.v053n05p14 L3 - 10.3733/ca.v053n05p14 AB - The costs of solid-set sprinkler and microirrigation (drip, micro-sprinkler and minisprinkler) systems are a major factor in the adoption of these irrigation technologies. Following design criteria provided to them, an irrigation design firm prepared 22 different designs for the same almond orchard. Initial and annualized costs for each of these designs are presented and discussed. The costs were highest for the solid-set sprinkler systems. The inclusion of frost protection substantially increased the costs of the solid-set sprinkler, microsprinkler and minisprinkler systems. Designs allowing the 40-acre orchard to be irrigated in two 20-acre irrigation blocks significantly reduced the costs. Pumping energy costs were a major portion of the annualized costs for all designs.