Farming in the Desert

Desert farming is very risky. In most areas what little water is present is used for drinking water. Desert temperatures are very high and usually have less than three inches of rainfall each year, which is very low. A few crops that will grow under these conditions are jojoba, date palms, and citrus. In the southwestern region of the United States irrigation is a real problem because there are no permanent rivers or streams in which to use for irrigation. However, in the Imperial Valley of California agriculture is what the economy is supported on. Irrigation water is supplied by the Colorado River via the All-American Canal.

In the Southwestern region of the United States rain is the only source of water for the Hope farmlands. The Hopi grow crops that are hardy and grow well in years when there is a drought. The Hopi grow crops such as corn, pumpkin, gourds, wheat, pecans, and other crops. Farmers will plant several seeds in each hole about twelve inches deep to take advantage of moisture in the subsoil. They will usually have several plants to sprout. With so many plants in the same spot they are generally sturdy and wind resistant.

The All-American Canal is 85 miles long and supplies water from the Colorado River to citizens in the Imperial Valley. The Imperial Valley is the fourth largest producer of agricultural product in the United States. It is the hottest and driest region in the Southwest; without the canal to deliver water agriculture would not survive. Ground water in the desert is a problem for the farmers and one way to help this is by the use of subsurface drip irrigation. The All-American Canal enables the farmers to irrigate their crops by an underground drip tape or dripper line directly to the root system.