Irrigation: Turning Gallons into Inches
DOWNLOADAugust 4, 2025 - Questions about this information? Contact us.
Print
EmailWe typically think of crop water requirements in inches since evapotranspiration and rainfall are reported as depths of water with no regard to area. In some cases, the volumetric measurement (gallons) for an irrigation application can be directly converted into linear measurement of depth (inches). Unfortunately, the calculation of an irrigation application’s volume is not always this simple. Knowing the output of your irrigation system and the area it is applied to is essential for matching your irrigation application to the requirements of your crop!
This resource explains how to convert irrigation volumes in gallons to inches of water applied using flow rate, time and area. It includes formulas and examples for center-pivot and drip systems to help optimize scheduling and reduce water waste.
