Center Pivot Irrigation in Illinois 2012 and 2014

This map displays center pivot irrigation systems in use in Illinois during the 2012 and 2014 growing seasons. There was a significant increase in irrigation use during 2013 and 2014, likely due to the drought in 2012. The saturated hydraulic conductivity layer represents soils with a value of ≥10 micrometers per second (3.6 centimeters per hour) in the upper 30 inches of soil, a value typical of sandy soils in Illinois. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is a measure of the ease with which water will move through a soil, and values typically increase with the sand content. Traditionally, irrigation is needed where sandy soils are present due to their low water-holding capacity and high hydraulic conductivity. This layer provides a general location for areas that are more likely to require irrigation for a successful crop. The majority of center pivot systems in Illinois are located in alluvial valleys where soils are sandy and where shallow aquifers are available to sustain high capacity wells. In recent years, seed corn contracts that require a guaranteed crop, as well as the positive return on investment for crops under irrigation, have expanded the use of center pivot irrigation to See more... This map is available online as a 25.5" x 37.5" PDF file (16.5MB).