The PHAUCET (Pipe Hole And Universal Crown Evaluation Tool) program for furrow irrigators is now available and being used.  However, because of the urgency to conserve water in the Mississippi Delta, it probably isn’t being used enough, especially since various sources tout water savings of 20-25% when it is used.

The majority of irrigated soybeans in the Midsouth receive supplemental water through gated poly pipe.  The PHAUCET program is designed for use with this delivery system to uniformly water fields with uneven row lengths by calculating the proper hole size for each watered furrow.

I am in no way an expert on this water/irrigation management tool.  However, I will point you to sources of information and the program download so that you can become familiar with it and its application.  It is certainly worth considering if you are interested in saving water, diesel fuel, and time.

The following are presentations that I recommend for your reading/viewing.

MSU turns PHAUCET on for Delta soybeans by Rebekah Ray

Improving furrow irrigation with help of  “PHAUCET” computer program by Phil Tacker and Steve Stevens

Implementation of PHAUCET computer program as BMP for improving furrow irrigation by Phil Tacker

PHAUCET by John Hester.

The PHAUCET program along with an operation guide can be downloaded from the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta (YMD) Water Management District’s website. Also, you can contact YMD and have a CD with the PHAUCET program sent to you.  Slide presentations that provide detailed information about the program and its use are also available on their website.  The  program can also be downloaded from the DELTA F.A.R.M. website.

The MSPB funded a recently completed 3-yr PHAUCET project conducted by Dr. Tom Eubank at Stoneville.  The detailed results from that completed project are forthcoming and will be available soon.  They will be posted on this website.

Composed by Larry G. Heatherly, June 2013, larryheatherly@bellsouth.net