[Talisker]

In the clay soils of the Delta there is insufficient wetting, causing spotty germination and growth. The only way to alleviate this problem is to repeatedly disturb the soil so clay bonding is reduced.

Clay soils, Delta, Central Valley, or anywhere else, are regularly amended with sand and organic mulches anyway, regardless of the irrigation method. So there's no extra cost there.

And NO soil is "repeatedly disturbed" once the crop is planted - that's absurd.

[ResponseAbility]

****Clay soils, Delta, Central Valley, or anywhere else, are regularly amended with sand and organic mulches anyway, regardless of the irrigation method. So there’s no extra cost there.****

Are you trying to tell me that the amendment process is free? All soils are not created equal, and it can become prohibitively expensive to amend, use expensive drip systems that break down in the elements, maintain the proper depth and spacing and remove and properly wind and clean them up again for the next crop. All that in the hopes of saving some water? Some crops use aerial for ferts more efficiently as well.

****And NO soil is “repeatedly disturbed” once the crop is planted - that’s absurd.****

I take it you are not familiar with raised bed gardening where weeding and clay breaking is a good reason for a hoe.