Crop Mystery – Water Investigation

Name:_______________________________ Date:___________ Per:_______

Read this about watering tomatoes from the National Garden Association:

“Like most other vegetables in the garden, tomatoes need at least one inch of rain or irrigation water per week for steady growth. In the hotter, drier parts of the country, their needs go up to two inches of water per week during the summer months. An inch of water measures out to about 60 gallons for each 100 square feet of garden.”

To figure out how much water Josh should be using, do the following calculations using the facts provided from the National Garden Association and below. Show your work below.

Josh’s farm is 180 acres.

There are 43,560 square feet in one acre.

Water costs about $0.00375 per gallon.

1. Square feet in Josh’s Farm: _______________

2. Gallons needed per week to water Josh’s Farm: _______________

3. Gallons needed per month to water Josh’s Farm: _______________

4. Total water bill per month: _______________

5. Amount of money per watering: _______________

What if…

What if the national government paid for 90% of the farmer’s water bill? How much would the farmer pay for the month if they had to water 5 times in a month?

_______________