How much water approximately is required to apply one acre-inch of irrigation?

Applying one acre-inch of irrigation means supplying enough water to cover an acre of land to a depth of one inch. To understand why this requires approximately 27,000 gallons of water, it's important to note a few key details about measurements and calculations in agriculture.

An acre is a unit of area equivalent to 43,560 square feet. When we consider applying water to a depth of one inch, we first need to convert this depth into a unit that matches the area measurement. One inch of water over one acre translates to a volume of water measured in cubic feet.

Since there are 12 inches in a foot, one acre-inch can be calculated as:

1 acre-inch = 43,560 sq ft * (1/12) ft = 3,630 cu ft

Now, converting cubic feet to gallons, we know that 1 cubic foot equals approximately 7.48 gallons. Therefore:

3,630 cu ft * 7.48 gallons/cu ft ≈ 27,000 gallons

This calculation shows that to adequately irrigate one acre to a depth of one inch, around 27,000 gallons of water must be applied. The precision of this amount is critical for effective water management in agricultural practices, ensuring that crops