Expert advises ways California farms can reduce pumping power costs

Improving pumping efficiency can significantly cut irrigation energy costs, Charles Burt, professor emeritus at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, said in a recent Ag Alert® article. Burt said pumps often operate inefficiently due to wear or mismatched flow and pressure conditions. Cleaning wells and reducing drawdown can lower total pressure requirements and energy use per acre-foot pumped. In new drip systems, reducing discharge pressure from 40-45 pounds per square inch to about 25 psi can cut booster pump power costs nearly in half. However, in existing systems, pressure reductions won’t save energy unless the pump matches the new requirements. Variable frequency drives can improve control but should meet high efficiency standards. Farmers should always maintain adequate pressure to protect irrigation uniformity and crop performance.