ANNUAL REPORT OF WESTERN REGIONAL PROJECT W-128

Supported by Allotments of Regional Research Funds

Hatch Act, as amended August 1955

January 1 to December 31, 1997

Project: Microirrigation: Management Practices to Sustain Water Quality and Agricultural Productivity (January 1 to December 31, 1997)

Cooperating Agencies and Principal Leaders:

State Agricultural Experiment Stations

Arizona AZ M. Yitayew*, A. W. Warrick, T. L. Thompson

California CA K. A. Shackel*, D. J. Hills, J. W. Hopmans, L. J. Schwankl

Colorado CO I. Broner*

Florida FL C. Stanley*

Guam GU P. Singh*

Hawaii HI I. P. Wu*

Idaho ID H. Neibling*, T. A. Tendall, R. H. Brooks, B. A. King

Iowa IA H. Taber*

Kansas KS F. R. Lamm*, G. A. Clark

Michigan MI R. von Bernuth*

Minnesota MN S. Gupta*, J. F. Moncrief, C. Rosen, J. Wright, D. Steele

Oregon OR R. Roseberg*,

New Mexico NM T. Sammis*

Texas TX R. D. Lacewell*, J. Moore, M. J. McFarland, B. Lesikar

Virginia VA N. Powell*

Washington WA R. G. Evans*, S. E. Spayd, R. L. Wample, R. G. Stevens, W. W. Cone

Wyoming WY R. Zhang*

USDA-ARS WMRL CA J. Ayars*

* Voting Members

Officers in 1997

F. R. Lamm, Kansas Chair

H. G. Taber, Iowa Vice-chair

H. Neibling, Idaho Secretary

M. Yitayew Incoming secretary

I. PROGRESS OF THE WORK AND PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Objective 1. Development of microirrigation system BMPs to sustain crop production and minimize water application and water quality degradation.

States reporting activity: AZ, CA, HI, IA, ID, KS, MN, OR, NM, VA, WY

Summary: States are using numerous approaches but are generally finding that microirrigation and nutrient management are interrelated and that proper management can result in less environmental problems with little effect on production.

AZ has completed work relating nitrogen application and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for broccoli and cauliflower. Sap nitrate test guidelines have been developed for these two crops. AZ has also posted reference ET maps to the Internet. CA found that although sprinkler application at the soil surface with microsprinklers was quite variable, soil water uniformity was high. CA found water application uniformity increased with higher wind speed, thus attributing the lower application uniformity to the sprinkler pattern. CA is conducting a long term project to determine if a root fungus may be accounting for a significant degree of the tree-to-tree variation in water stress. HI is continuing development of models to examine the effect of water application efficiency and uniformity on environmental contamination. Significant work is being made to interrelate Emission Uniformity (EU) with irrigation efficiency and economic return. ID is finding that subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) can be a profitable BMP for sugar beet production, but N application strategies may need to be modified. ID is also examining the effect of irrigation management on rhizomania development in sugar beets. IA has developed BMPs for bell pepper production based on leaf petiole sampling for N. These BMPs were further evaluated in 1997. KS found that field corn yield plateaus coincide with plateaus of nitrogen uptake and water use efficiency. Kansas has documented the BMP and is seeking critical review. MN is evaluating models to determine the effect of irrigation system type on leaching of nitrate and water use of potatoes. OR is finding MI methods to produce extremely small amounts of leaching as compared to flood irrigation systems. NM found microirrigation to be effective in controlling disease in chile and that this will allow wider plantings of chile. VA is evaluating use of boron at four different levels of SDI in corn. WY has further developed a computer model to simulate irrigation system effects on chemical transport.

Objective 2. Carry out field evaluation of BMPs for crop production and water quality degradation control using microirrigation.

States reporting activity: AZ, CA, IA, ID, KS, MN, OR, NM, VA, WY

Summary: BMPs are being evaluated for use of microirrigation on 12 different crops. These crops range from fruits and vegetables, to tree crops, to field commodity crops. Evaluations are tending to substantiate the BMPs, but some fine tuning will probably be productive.

BMPs are being evaluated for using microirrigation on the following: broccoli (AZ), cauliflower (AZ), lettuce (AZ), almonds (CA), prunes (CA), peaches (CA), sugar beets (ID and WY), potatoes (ID and MN), bell peppers (IA), field corn (KS and VA), pears (OR), chile (NM)

Objective 3. Develop an expert system and models for chemical management practices using microirrigation systems.

States reporting activity: AZ, KS, MN, WY

Summary: Four states reported activity in 1996. These efforts are concentrating on developing flow and water and chemical redistribution models. There was no reported effort in expert system development in 1996.

AZ is developing a model to numerically solve for soil hydraulic properties from point source mesaurements. It has a less intensive data set requirement than some of the more comprehensive models. KS has developed lysimeters to quantify water and nutrient redistribution results that may be predicted by models. KS is validating models to simulate chemigation uniformity through SDI laterals. MN is working to evaluate and validate 2DSPUD to simulate potato yield, matric potential, and soil nitrate concentrations. WY has rewritten and published a computer model to simulate irrigation system effects on chemical transport entitled Chain_IR. CHAIN_IR can be applied to simulate irrigation systems either automatically controlled by a tensiometer or scheduled using a timetable.

Objective 4. Assess the economics of BMPs developed for microirrigation systems.

States reporting activity: HI, KS, VA,

Summary: Design and management considerations of microirrigation systems can be very important in minimizing the negative environmental economic effects of irrigated crop production. SDI can be an economically competitive system even for relatively low value crops under certain conditions.

HI has developed a simulation model to evaluate the effect of application efficiency, uniformity, and accuracy of ET determination on the economics of environmental contamination. KS has found that SDI can be economically competitive with center pivot sprinkler systems for field corn production on smaller fields generally less than 30 ha (75 acres). KS has submitted an SDI economics paper for critical review. VA is finding SDI can be an attractive economic alternative for production of peanuts and corn in rotations.

II. Usefulness of Findings

Many useful findings are related in Section I. Here are some additional highlights.

  • AZ Development of reliable and accurate methods to measure or estimate hydraulic conductivity is vital to modeling efforts.
    •

    • CA Proper positioning of soil water sensors is critical in operation of microirrigation systems.

    Significant water savings are possible by using targeted levels of water stress for trees.

    Significant water savings are possible by scheduling irrigation at night.

  • CO Using Cropflex for water and nitrogen management resulted in less water and nitrogen applied than by traditional management.

    HI Determination of ET should be as accurate as possible and becomes more important as environmental contamination becomes more expensive.

    Applying the optimal amount of ET can save 40% irrigation water.

    ID The potential for SDI use on center pivot corners is substantial, between 75,000 - 125,000 acres.

    IA A routine leaf petiole nitrogen program for bell pepper can both increase yields and limit excessive N applications.

    KS High yielding corn production with SDI goes hand-in-hand with good nutrient and irrigation management.

    Chemical application uniformity is potentially affected by dripline lateral size.

    NM Microirrigation can be used to control diseases in chile.

    OR Ultra-low rate irrigation systems that can provide sufficient water for crop growth while minimizing potential for surface and groundwater pollution.

    •

    • VA SDI proved to be economically feasible on agronomic row crops in Virginia.

  • WY Models can be used to study irrigation strategies
    •

    • III. Work Planned for 1997.

    The principal efforts in 1998 will be in evaluating and refining the BMPs that have been developed. Publications are being prepared documenting the BMPs (Objective 2). The modeling efforts will continue and intensify particularly in regards to the physical models and their evaluation (Objective 3). Refereed and extension publications are being prepared assessing the economics of SDI (Objective 4). Objective 1 is essentially completed, unless new BMPs are developed for additional crops, locations, climates, or soils.

    IV . PUBLICATIONS RELATED TO W-128 (including accepted manuscripts)

    1. Journal Articles

    Andreu, L, J. W. Hopmans and L. J. Schwankl. 1997. Spatial and temporal distriibution of soil water balance for a drip-irrigated almond tree. Agricultural Water Management. (In Press).

    Bosch, D. J., N. L. Powell, and F. S. Wright. 1998. Investment returns from three subsurface microirrigation tubing spacings. J. Prod. Agric. 11: (In press).

    Broner, I., K. Thompson and M. Dillon. 1996. Validation of a malting barley water and nutrient management expert system. Agricultural Water Management Journal. (Accepted)

    Broner I. and S. Comstock. 1996. Combining Expert Systems and Neural Networks for Learning Site Specific Conditions. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture Journal. (Accepted)

    Darusman, A. H. Khan, L. R. Stone, and F. R. Lamm. 1997. Water flux below the root zone vs. drip-line spacing in drip irrigated corn. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 61(6)1755-1760

    Darusman, A. H. Khan, L. R. Stone, W. E. Spurgeon, and F. R. Lamm. 1997. Water flux below the root zone vs. irrigation amount in drip-irrigated corn. Agron. J. 89(3) 375-379.

    Errebhi, M., C. J. Rosen, S. C. Gupta, and D. E. Birong. 1998. Potato growth and nitrate movement as influenced by nitrogen Management. Agronomy Journal. (In press).

    Fuchigami, L. H., E. V. Maas, J. M. Lyons, D. W. Rains, J. K. Raison, and K. A. Shackel. 1996. Stress Physiology, pp. 142-151, In: F.B. Salisbury (ed) Units, Symbols, and Terminology for Plant Physiology. A Reference for Presentation of Research Results in Plant Sciences. New York, Oxford University Press.

    Gui, S., R. Zhang, and J. Wu, 1997. Simplified dynamic reliability models for hydraulic design. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering (in press).

    Kubota, A., T. L. Thompson, T. A. Doerge, and R. E. Godin. 1997. A petiole sap nitrate test for broccoli. J.Plant Nutr. 20:669-682.

    Kubota, A., T. L. Thompson, T. A. Doerge, and R. E. Godin. 1997. A petiole sap nitrate test for cauliflower. HortScience 31:934-937.

    Koumanov, K. S., J. W. Hopmans, L. J. Schwankl, L.. Andreu, and A.. Tuli. 1997. Application efficiency of micro-sprinkler irrigation of almond trees. Agricultural Water Management. (In Press).

    Kravchenko, A., and R. Zhang, 1997. Estimation of soil water retention function from texture and structure data: fractal approach. In M. M. Novak and T. G. Dewey (eds.), Fractal Frontiers. pp. 329-338, World Scientific, London.

    Kravchenko, A., and R. Zhang, 1997. Estimation of precipitation using geostatistical analysis with geographical and topographical information. Hydrological Science and Technology (in press).

    Kravchenko, A., and R. Zhang, 1997. Estimating the soil water retention from particle-size distributions: a fractal approach. Soil Science (in press).

    Lamm, F. R., L. R. Stone, H. L. Manges, and D. M. O'Brien. 1997. Optimum lateral spacing for subsurface drip-irrigated corn. Trans. ASAE 40(4):1021-1027.

    Pang, X.P., S.C. Gupta, J.F. Moncrief, C.J. Rosen, and H.H. Cheng. 1998. Evaluation of nitrate leaching potential in Minnesota Glacial outwash soils using the CERES-Maize model. J. Environ. Qual. (In press).

    Perillo, C.A., S.C. Gupta, E.A. Nater, and J.F. Moncrief. 1998. Adsorption characteristics of FD&C Blue #1 food dye in soil and flow velocity effects on dye retardation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (In press).

    Powell, N. L., and F. S. Wright. 1998. Subsurface microirrigated corn and peanut: effect on soil pH. Agric. Water Management (In press).

    Powell, N. L. 1997. Irrigation with balanced fertilization increases corn yield. Better Crops 81(2):12-13.

    Powell, N. L. 1997. Subsurface drip system fine tunes nutrient management for high yields. Fluid J. 5(2):20-23.

    Salameh Al-Jamal, M., T. W. Sammis and T. Jones. 1997. Nitrogen and chloride concentration in deep soil cores related to fertilization. Ag.. Water Management 34:1-16.

    Shackel, K. 1996. To tense, or not to tense: reopening the debate about water ascent in plants. Trends in Plant Science 1:4 (4):130-132.

    Shackel, K. A., H. Ahmadi, W. Biasi, et al. 1997. Plant water status as an index of inrrigation need in deciduous fruit trees. HortTechnology 7(1):23-29.

    Wu, J., R. Zhang, and J. Yang, 1997. Estimating the process of infiltration recharge using a response function model. Journal of Hydrology 198:124-139.

    Wu, J., S. Gui, P. Stahl, and R. Zhang, 1997. Experimental study on the Reduction of hydraulic conductivity by enhanced biomass growth. Soil Science (in press).

    Wu, I. P. 1997. An Assessment of Hydraulic Design of Microirrigation Systems. Agricultural Water Management, 32(275-284).

    Xu, X., R. Zhang, X. Xue, and M. Zhao, 1997. Determination of evapotranspiration in the desert area using lysimeters. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis (in press).

    Yang, J., R. Zhang, J. Wu, and M. B. Allen, 1997. Stochastic analysis of adsorbing solute transport in three-dimensional, heterogeneous, unsaturated soils. Water Resources Research 33:1947-1956.

    Yitayew, M. and K. Blayneh. 1997. Analytical solution of a low pressure manifold. ASCE Journal of Hydraulic Engineering (Accepted).

    Yitayew, M., A. Khan, and A. W. Warrick. 1997. In-Situ measurements of soil hydraulic conductivity using point application of water. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. (Accepted).

    Zhang, R., 1997. Scale-dependent soil hydraulic conductivity. In M. M. Novak and T. G. Dewey (eds.), Fractal Frontiers. pp. 383-392, World Scientific, London.

    Zhang, R., 1997. Determination of soil sorptivity and hydraulic conductivity from the disc infiltrometer. Soil Science Society of America Journal 61:1024-1030.

    Zhang, R., P. Shouse, and S. Yates, 1997. Use of pseudo-crossvariograms and cokriging to improve estimates of soil solute concentrations. Soil Science Society of America Journal 61:1342-1347.

    Zhang, R., 1997. Infiltration models for the disc infiltrometer. Soil Science Society of America Journal (in press).

    Zhang, R., and J. Yang. 1997. Determination of soil hydraulic properties for vadose zone hydrology. Hydrological Science and Technology (in press).

    Zhang, R., P. Shouse, S. Yates, and A. Kravchenko, 1997. Applications of geostatistics in soil science. Trends in Soil Science (in press).

     

    B. Other Publications and Presentations

    Chen, C., R. Roseberg, and J. Selker. 1997. Water and chemical transport in a swelling clay orchard soil under ultra-low rate and flood irrigation systems. Agron. Abstr. 263.

    Clark, G. A., P. L.. Barnes, F. R. Lamm, and S. Mcvey. 1997. Chemigation uniformity in microirrigation materials. Presented at the 1997 international ASAE meeting. Paper no. 972176 from ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. 10 pp.

    Clark, G. A., T. W. Tyson, and A. G. Smajstrla. 1997. Performance testing and reporting for thin-walled drip irrigation tape. Presented at the 1997 international ASAE meeting. Paper no. 972071 from ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. 7 pp.

    Clark, G. A., P. L.. Barnes, D. H. Rogers, D. Regegr, and S. Mcvey. 1997. Discharge uniformity in a porous irrigation hose. Presented at the 1997 mid-central regional ASAE meeting. Paper no. MC-97-102 from ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. 8 pp.

    Kravchenko, A., R. Zhang, and S. Gloss, 1997. Estimating the annual maximum precipitation using restricted kriging. Proceeding of Seventeenth Annual American Geophysical Union, Hydrology Days. pp. 192-202. Fort Collins, Colorado (best Ph.D. paper awarded by the American Geophysical Union).

    Kravchenko, A., R. Zhang, S. Gloss, and Y. Tung, 1997. Determination of precipitation spatial distributions for studying groundwater pollution. Proceedings of Applied Research for Management of Wyoming's Water Resources. pp. 210-213, Casper, WY.

    Lamm, F. R., A. J. Schlegel, and G. A. Clark. 1997. Nitrogen fertigation for corn using SDI: A BMP. Presented at the 1997 international ASAE meeting. Paper no. 972174 from ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. 17 pp.

    Lamm, F. R., G. A. Clark, M. Yitayew, R. A. Schoneman, R. M. Mead, and A. D. Schneider. 1997. Installation issues for SDI systems. Presented at the 1997 international ASAE meeting. Paper no. 972074 from ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. 6 pp.

    Lamm, F. R., C. A. Storlie, D. J. Pitts. 1997. Revision of ep-458: field evaluation of microirrigation systems. Presented at the 1997 international ASAE meeting. Paper no. 972170 from ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. 19 pp.

    Lamm, F. R., A. J. Schlegel, and G. A. Clark. 1997. Optimum Nitrogen fertigation for corn using SDI. In proceedings of the 1997 Irrigation Association international exposition and technical conference, Nashville, TN, November 2-4, 1997. Available from Irrigation Association, Fairfax, VA.

    Lamm, F. R., T. P. Trooien, G. A. Clark, D. H. Rogers and M Alam. 1997. SDI and electrotechnologies. In proceedings of the EPRI-Agricultural Technology Alliance semi-annual meeting, Boise, ID, May 28-30, 1997. Available from EPRI-ATA, Palo Alto, CA.

    Lamm, F. R., D. H. Rogers, and W. E. Spurgeon. 1997. Design and management considerations for subsurface drip irrigation systems. In proceedings of the 1997 Central Plains Irrigation Short Course. Colby, KS, February 4, 1997. Available from KSU Extension Agricultural Engineering, Manhattan, KS. pp. 65-71.

    Lamm, F. R., W. E. Spurgeon, D. H. Rogers, and H. L. Manges. 1997. KSU Research for corn production using SDI. In proceedings of the 1997 Central Plains Irrigation Short Course. Colby, KS, February 4, 1997. Available from KSU Extension Agricultural Engineering, Manhattan, KS. pp. 72-80.

    O'Brien, D. M., D. H. Rogers, F. R. Lamm and G. A. Clark. 1997. Irrigation system economics as affected by field size. In proceedings of the 1997 Central Plains Irrigation Short Course. Colby, KS., February 4, 1997. Available from KSU Extension Ag. Engineering, Manhattan, KS. pp. 81-93.

    O'Brien, D., D. H. Rogers, F. Lamm and G. A.. Clark. 1997. Economic comparison of SDI and Center Pivots for various field sizes. KSU Cooperative Extension Irrigation Management Series, MF-2242. 6 pp.

    O'Brien, D. M., D. H. Rogers, F. R. Lamm, and G. A. Clark. 1997. Economics of SDI for corn in western Kansas. Presented at the 1997 international ASAE meeting. Paper no. 972072 from ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. 15 pp.

    Roseberg, R., C. Chen, D. Sugar, and J. Selker. 1997. Soil water availability and pear growth and quality using an ultra-low rate irrigation system. Agron. Abstr. 105.

    Shackel, K. A. 1996. Physiological aspects of water use, pp. 113-115. In: Micke, W.C.(ed), Almond production manual. Publication 3364, University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, CA.

    Sharmasarkar, S., F. Cassel-Sharmasarkar, R. Zhang, and G. F. Vance, 1997. Fate of nitrate and aldicarb under irrigation management. Proceedings of Applied Research for Management of Wyoming's Water Resources. pp. 87-91, Casper, WY.

    Taber, H. G. (Ed). Annual Fruit/Vegetable progress Report. 1996. Iowa State Univ. Coop Ext. FG-601., pp 71-75.

    Waddell, J. T., S. C. Gupta, J. F. Moncrief, and C. J. Rosen. 1996. Predicting yield and nitrate leaching using 2DSOIL model. Agron. Abst. 66.

    Waddell, J. T., S. C. Gupta, J. F. Moncrief, and C. J. Rosen. 1996. Predicting yield and nitrate leaching as affected by irrigation and nitrogen managment. Agron. Abst. p 77.

    Yitayew, M. and C. Reynolds. 1997. Cost saving: the low-head gravity-flow bubbler irrigation system advantages. Paper No.972184 presented at the 1997 International Meeting of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 10-14, 1997.

    Yitayew, M. and C. Reynolds. 1997. Solute movement from point application of water. Paper Number 972110 presented at the 1997 International Meeting of the ASAE, Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 10-14, 1997.

    Yitayew, M. and M. Yousaf. 1997. Solute transport under different irrigation systems. Paper Number 972112 presented at the 1997 International Meeting of the ASAE, Minneapolis, MN, Aug. 10-14, 1997.

    Zhang, R., 1997. CHAIN_IR, Irrigation simulations of water flow and solute transport with nitrogen transformation. Research Bulletin No. B-00888, College of Agriculture, University of Wyoming, 34pp.

     

    If you note any broken links or errors in this web site or have information to contribute or difficulty obtaining information about the W-128 working group, please contact
    Dr. Clinton C. Shock
    Malheur Agricultural Experiment Station, Oregon State University
    595 Onion Avenue
    Ontario, OR 97914
    (541) 889-2174
    FAX (541) 889-7831
    Clinton.Shock@oregonstate.edu

    Last updated  Tuesday July 1, 2003.