Improving irrigation management
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Transcript of Improving irrigation management
IMPROVING IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT
Earl Vories, Agricultural EngineerUSDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research UnitPortageville, MO
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Disclaimer
Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Improving Irrigation Management for Humid and Subhumid Climates
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
GoalOur goal is to develop solutions to broad water management problems with application to humid and sub-humid areas in the USA and the world.
Participating Scientists
Agricultural Research ServiceEarl Vories - Lead Scientist
John SadlerKen Sudduth
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Participating ScientistsUniversity of Missouri
Joe Henggeler - Principal Investigator
Allen ThompsonGene StevensDavid Dunn
Andrea JonesTranslating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Lower Mississippi (WRA 08) Portions of Missouri, Kentucky,
Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana
11.4 million acres of farmland Primarily subhumid climate Average annual rainfall > 40
inches
Mid-South
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
49% furrow 29% flood 21% center
pivot
Mid-South irrigation methods
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Top Mid-South states in 2008 irrigated area
Arkansas 4.5 million acres (4th) 675,000 acre 10-year increase (2nd largest)
Mississippi 1.5 million acres (12th) 259,000 acre 10-year increase (4th largest)
Missouri 1.2 million acres (13th) 279,000 acre 10-year increase (3rd largest)
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Missouri - 97% Mississippi - 95% Tennessee - 81% Arkansas - 80% Louisiana - 76% Kentucky - 61%
Most Mid-South irrigation water from groundwater
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Improving Irrigation Management for Humid and Subhumid Climates
Objectives:1. Evaluate and optimize production
systems to optimize water use efficiency under variable weather conditions.
2. Evaluate the suitability of variable-rate center pivot irrigation (part of multi-location effort).
3. Evaluate the quality of runoff from irrigated cropland.Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Minimizing water use for rice production: rice field water monitoring sprinkler irrigated rice comparing production systems developing and refining crop coefficients determining water/yield relationship
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Mid-South farmers grew 60% of total US rice crop in 2003 (USDA-NASS, 2004) Mostly produced in flooded culture Generally requires more irrigation water
than other crops produced in the region Published estimate for Arkansas: 760 mm,
based on several years of on-farm observations
Vories et al. (2006) reported 460 - 1435 mm for 33 Arkansas fields during 2003 through 2005
Smith et al. (2006) reported 382 - 1034 mm in Mississippi in 2003 and 2004
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Floodwater depth sensor
Float-switch type sensors used in 2008 (high or low).
Other experimental sensors will be tested to provide information about actual depth of water, not just high or low.
Sensors being developed as part of another project (e.g., fuel flow, dynamic water table depth) will be included.
Prototype depth sensorTranslating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Conclusions – surface irrigation monitoring
Remote monitoring could aid farmers in managing surface irrigation.
Ag conditions/environment present challenges for designing/constructing sensors that will last whole season (preferably multiple seasons).
Testing/improving with rice has continued. Working with furrow again.
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Center pivot rice production
Rice production under center pivot irrigation investigated in 1980's Problems precluded adoption
poor weed control disease (blast) towers got stuck low yield (maybe due to others)Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Center Pivot Rice Production
renewed interest, US and internationally improved cultivars and hybrids additional herbicides and fungicides improved tower/sprinkler
arrangements
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
If we grow rice like other crops, we have to consider irrigation scheduling
Irrigation scheduling more difficult in sub-humid regions than arid Clouds, rainfall, temperature swings all
complicate irrigation scheduling Weather conditions vary greatly year to
year and within year Most scheduling methods measure or
estimate soil water content highly variable soils limited measurementsTranslating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Basal Rice Crop Coefficient, Short Grass ReferenceFAO 56 - assuming 5 days planting to emergence
Arkansas Irrigation Scheduler beta version
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Center Pivot Rice Study Area Showing Soil Mapping Units
Soil Mapping UnitsDd = Dundee sandy loamDe = Dundee silt loamRe = Reelfoot loamRf = Reelfoot sandy loamTp = Tiptonville silt loam
Water savings (relative to flood) not always goal; sometimes goal to bring rice into crop rotation
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Real-time Weather at University of Mo. Fisher Delta Research Center
Marsh Farm (http://agebb.missouri.edu/weather/realtime/porta
geville.asp)
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Estimated SWD, rainfall and irrigation between emergence and final irrigation - 2009
Irrigationfirst: 6/19final: 9/1134 d - 414 mm
Rain during irrigation period
31 d -296 mm
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Watermark sensors - 2009
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Summary & Conclusions
AIS appeared to respond as expected and yields from different studies suggested crop not drought stressed
AIS and Watermark data suggested more irrigation water may have been applied than necessary for optimal crop growth
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Summary & Conclusions
Current phase uses beta version of AIS to schedule irrigations
Soil moisture sensors to indicate how well the AIS describes soil moisture
Data should indicate whether current crop coefficient is adequate
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
• “Off-the-shelf” and aftermarket systems available for variable rate (VR) application of seed, lime, fertilizer, pesticides, plant growth regulators, and defoliants.• Cannot realize the full potential of those benefits if we do not properly manage water.
Precision irrigation
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Irrigation Management Approaches (non site-specific) Ensure that the smallest water holding
capacity receives adequate water Match the needs of the average (or
largest) soil water conditions Limit applications to avoid
overwatering the wettest areas In all cases, parts of the field are either
over- or under-irrigated
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
0.8”1.2”
1”
0.5”
1”
1”
change travel speed; unable to vary application rate along pipeline
Some VR capability “off the shelf”
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
VR Irrigation Potential Benefits Improve irrigation management/efficiency (don’t
under- or over-water) Reduce nutrient leaching/runoff (not over-
watering) Reduce disease (not stressing portions of field) Increase yields Optimize pumping costs; save water/energy Future regulatory benefits
Can we have site-specific management (precision agriculture) for irrigation?
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI)
University of Georgia, with Farmscan (Australia), developed a distributed control system – Variable-Rate Irrigation
Valmont and Lindsay both have VRI systems Use pneumatic (Georgia), hydraulic (Valmont),
or electric (Lindsay) valves to vary sprinklers from 100% (always on) to 0% (always off) or used pulsing for rates in between
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
• Layout center pivot configuration
• Determine fixed or variable length zones
• Layout control zones
• Review hydraulics
Develop Zone Control Package
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
On-farm VRI field
ECa (mS/m)
DualEM “Deep” (0 - ~9’)
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Valley VRI Zone Control Prescription
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Field on May 9, 2011
Working toward real-time VRI
soil moisturesensor
thermocouple orother temperature
sensor
datalogger, transmitter
interrogator
pivot point
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Global Positioning System
Infrared Thermometer(canopy temperature)
Crop Circle
GreenSeeker
Air Temperature and
Relative Humidity
Pyranometer
(sunlight)
Ultrasonic(crop
height)
Instrumentation for Sensing Drought and Nutrient Stresses
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Potential Roadblocks For Implementing VRI
Cost (in today’s economic situation) Farm Bill includes potential cost-share funds
Potential for lightning damage Technology is new Fairly steep learning curve Pressure fluctuations when sprinklers or end gun
cycled - pumps need to match changing conditions (steep vs. flat pump curves)
Age / diversity of current pivot systems
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Determining nutrient content of runoff from surface drained land
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
• Irrigated crops, especially rice•Surface, rather than subsurface drainage that has been studied more
•Do controlled drainage principles from surface drainage apply in this region?
•Exploratory work began in January 2006
•Current effort started in June 2011
Why Southeast Missouri?
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Findings
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO
Future Plans – runoff monitoring
• Refine ratings curves• Define watersheds• Begin event sampling
After a year like 2012, easy to forget that irrigation is just one component in the production system
Also have to optimize• drainage• cultivar selection• weed control• fertility
Final thought: Irrigation alone is not enough!
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October
2012, Columbia, MO