ABSTRACT
More than 65% of U.S. total vegetable acreage is irrigated [14]. Although used on approximately 7% of the total irrigated acreage in the U.S., drip irrigation is widely used on high-value crops [15]. Improvements in drip irrigation and increases in plasticulture production have prompted significant increases (> 500%) in its use over the previous 20-30 years, [14]. Drip irrigation, if properly managed, can achieve up to 95% application efficiencies [25].
