Organic Agricultural Analysis—Efficiency of Common Practices

by Bradley Biega

Submitted : Spring 2016

In this study, analytical algebra and calculus were used to analyze the efficiency of common watering practices in an organic agriculture setting. Sweetwater Organic Farm’s conventional methods for irrigation and land allotment were used for my study. Sweetwater’s entire operation was not analyzed, but limited to their largest growing field.  A mathematical model was built to determine the current efficiency of the rotary head sprinkler system that is in use. Then, the efficiency of this system was compared to a new drip line system. Several variables like soil porosity, absorption rates, and areas where no plants are located, were taken into consideration when calculating water efficiency.  Results from this paper show that the current irrigation in place wasted upwards of 200,000 gallons of water a year and that the proposed drip line irrigation system was more efficient and worth investigating.

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