Project Number: 5368-13000-006-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Dec 06, 2001
End Date: Dec 05, 2006

Objective:
Develop and evaluate management practices that improve irrigation uniformity, reduce soil erosion and offsite water quality problems, and conserves natural resources. Develop and evaluate soil erosion simulation models for sprinkler and surface irrigation systems. Evaluate efficiency and application uniformity of new and improved irrigation techniques, equipment and systems. Relate yearly water use to soil, crop and climatic conditions for traditional agricultural crops and urban landscapes.

Approach:
Field studies w/crops, e.g., corn, dry beans, potatoes & sugarbeets will be conducted to measure the effects of conservation tillage, drip irrigation reservoir tillage and PAM application on infiltration, erosion, water-use efficiency and irrigation uniformity. Soil column and miniflume laboratory studies will compare infiltration of several types of polyacrylamides and surface active agents, followed by furrow irrigation uniformity field studies with promising treatments. Erosion data will be collected from surface and sprinkler irrigated fields to define erosion relationships and improve erosion model simulations. Water temperature will be measured in irrigation furrows with a variety of sediment concentrations & crop canopy characteristics to develop a furrow-stream temperature model. Surface and vadose zone soil hydraulic properties will be characterized for various tillage and crop management practices to improve infiltration predictions. Plant water-use data will be related to crop, soil and climatic conditions. FY02 Program Increase $216,000. Add .50 SY (.50 SY to 5368-12000-005-00D)

Project Team

Bjorneberg, David Entry, James Lehrsch, Gary Lentz, Rodrick Kincaid, Dennis Sojka, Robert Westermann, Dale Leytem, April

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002