• Conserves surface and ground water supplies

• Protects surface and ground water quality

• Substantial reduction in irrigation labor costs

• Significant increase in irrigation application efficiencies (higher yields)

• Reduced pumping costs

• Potential detrimental effects of water quality (pH, salinity & sodium) on plants and soils are properly assessed and managed for

• Irrigation water losses through evaporation, runoff and deep percolation are minimized

Soil resource:

• Improved soil quality is possible because of increased biomass production (more crop residues are produced)

• Reduced soil erosion from both water and wind

• Proper assessment, management and prevention of Saline, Saline-Sodic and Sodic soils is attained

• Reduced use of soil amendments

• Reduction in water-logged soils

• Reduced leaching results in higher nitrogen-use efficiency

• Cost for crop production is reduced due to integration of IWM with nutrient management practices

• Significant increases in yield and crop quality

• Reduced incidences of diseases and pests

• Available water quantity and quality meet the specific requirements of the crop (consumptive use, leaching)

• Increased beneficial use of fertilizer and soil amendment inputs

• Reduction in over all on-farm energy use

• Protects the environment by the planned judicious use of water, fertilizers and other inputs

• Record keeping is used as an invaluable planning tool in the decision and management of current and future water resources

• All the major aspects involved in the farm operation are integrated in this IWM Handbook

• Analysis of soil, plant/petiole tissue and water samples allows the producer to make informed decisions on all inputs and their relationship to IWM principles

• An effective IWM Plan should be updated to reflect mgmt. changes, learning, etc.

Rudy Garcia 2008