Progress Report on Microirrigation in Kansas, 2003.
Title Microirrigation Technologies for Protection of Natural Resources and Optimum Production
Personnel Freddie R. Lamm, Northwest Research-Extension
Center
Gary A. Clark, Department of Biological
and Agricultural Engineering
Mahbub Alam, Southwest Research-Extension
Center
Kansas State University
Objectives
Objective 1. To evaluate and refine
microirrigation management strategies to promote natural resource protection
and optimal crop production.
Objective 2. To improve, modify,
and evaluate microirrigation system design and components for natural resource
protection and optimal crop production.
Objective 3. To assess and develop
decision criteria for adoption of microirrigation technologies.
Objective 4. To promote appropriate
microirrigation technologies through formal and informal educational activities.
Accomplishments
The Kansas W128 members had several accomplishments in 2003. Approximately 30 students were exposed to training and educational opportunities related to microirrigation. This included one graduate student who is investigating issues related to wastewater utilization through microirrigation systems. There were two refereed journal articles concerning subsurface drip irrigation accepted in 2003 and are currently in press. Two articles related to microirrigation were also published in the Encyclopedia of Water Science. In addition, two other international proceeding papers and four cooperative extension papers were published. Eight presentations were made at the international, national and regional levels in 2003 with approximately 250-300 meeting participants.
Impact Statements
Microirrigation continues to grow in the Great Plains region as more information about installation, operation, maintenance and irrigation management is developed by Kansas State University.
Publications
Camp, C. A. and F. R. Lamm. 2003. Irrigation systems, subsurface drip. Encyclopedia of Water Science. pp. 560-564.
Clark, G. A. 2003. Irrigation design steps and elements. Encyclopedia of Water Science. pp. 454-458 .
Lamm, F. R., A. J. Schlegel, and G. A. Clark. 2003. Development of a Best Management Practice for Nitrogen Fertigation of Corn Using SDI. Appl. Engr in Agric. (In press)
Lamm, F. R. and T. P. Trooien. 2003. Subsurface drip irrigation for corn production: a review of 10 years of research in Kansas. Special issue of Irrigation Science (In press).
Lamm, F. R. and T. P. Trooien. 2003. Effect of dripline depth on field corn production in Kansas. In Proc. Irrigation Assn. Int’l. Irrigation Technical Conf., November 18-20, 2003, San Diego, CA.. Available from Irrigation Assn., Falls Church VA.
Lamm, F. R., 2002. Advantages and disadvantages of subsurface drip irrigation. In Proc. International Meeting on Advances in Drip/Micro Irrigation, Puerto de La Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands, December 2-5, 2002. Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Canary Islands. 13 pp.
Lamm, F. R. , D. H. Rogers, M. Alam and G. A. Clark. 2003. Design considerations for subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems. KSU Cooperative Ext. Irrigation Mgmt. Series, MF-2578. 8 pp.
Rogers, D. H., Lamm, F. R., M. Alam, and G. M. Powell. 2003. Shock chlorination for treatment for irrigation wells. KSU Cooperative Ext. Irrigation Mgmt. Series, MF-2589. 4 pp.
Rogers, D. H., Lamm, F. R., and M. Alam. 2003. Subsurface drip irrigation systems (SDI) water quality assessment guidelines. KSU Cooperative Ext. Irrigation Mgmt. Series, MF-2575. 8 pp.
Rogers, D. H., Lamm, F. R., and M. Alam. 2003. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) components: Minimum requirements. KSU Cooperative Ext. Irrigation Mgmt. Series, MF-2576. 4 pp.
Presentations at International, National, and Regional Conferences
Lamm, F. R. and T. P. Trooien. 2003. Effect of dripline depth on field corn production in Kansas. A presentation at the Irrigation Assn. International . Irrigation Technical Conference, November 18-20, 2003, San Diego, CA.. Available from Irrigation Assn., Falls Church VA.
Lamm, F. R., 2002. Advantages and disadvantages of subsurface drip irrigation. A presentation at the International Meeting on Advances in Drip/Micro Irrigation, Puerto de La Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands, December 2-5, 2002. Instituto Canario de Investigaciones Agrarias, Canary Islands.
Lamm, F. R., D. M. O’Brien, D. H. Rogers, and T. J . Dumler. 2003. Center pivot sprinkler and SDI economic comparisons. A presentation at the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course, Colby, KS., Feb. 4-5, 2003.
Lamm, F. R. 2003. KSU research for corn production using SDI: 14 years of progress. A presentation at the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course, Colby, KS., Feb. 4-5, 2003.
Lamm, F. R., D. H. Rogers, and W. E. Spurgeon. 2003. Design and management considerations for subsurface drip irrigation systems. A presentation at the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course, Colby, KS., Feb. 4-5, 2003.
Rogers, D. H., F. R. Lamm, and M. Alam. 2003. SDI water quality assessment guidelines. A presentation at the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course, Colby, KS., Feb. 4-5, 2003.
Alam, M., D. H. Rogers, F. R. Lamm and T. P. Trooien. 2003. Filtration: A basic component for SDI to avoid clogging hazards. A presentation at the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course, Colby, KS., Feb. 4-5, 2003.
Lamm, F. R., A. J. Schlegel, and G. A. Clark. 2003. Nitrogen fertilization for corn production using SDI. A presentation at the Water and the Future of Kansas Conference, Manhattan, KS., March 11, 2003.
Student Activities and Educational Programs By Objective
Objective 1.
Student Activities:
· The effects of chlorine dosing
with livestock lagoon wastewater on fecal coliform bacteria and residual
chlorine were evaluated. (1 graduate student – Matt Steele)
· Lab tests were conducted to determine
the effect of NH4-N concentrations in livestock lagoon water on required
chlorine dosing to maintain a free residual chlorine level of 1-2 ppm.
(1 graduate student – Matt Steele)
Objective 2.
Student Activities:
· A field study with four different
microirrigation tubing products and livestock lagoon wastewater was continued.
All four products were heavy wall, polyethylene pipe drip tubing products.
Two were designed for use with wastewater, and two had pressure compensating
emitters. The products range in cost from $0.40/m to over $0.80/m.
The study is evaluating the long-term performance and maintenance requirements
of those products. (1 undergraduate student – Jeremy Huser)
· A lab study was conducted to
evaluate the effects of varying water temperature on drip emitter water
discharge rates. Two different products and two wall thickness values
were evaluated. These tests were a continuation of the drip tape
performance standard tests. [Presented as a student poster at the Kansas
Section ASAE meeting, 10/17/03] (2 undergraduate students – Jeremy Huser
and Marsha Roberts)
Objective 4.
Educational Programs
· The livestock Wastewater SDI
system is part of the Kansas State University, Waste Management Learning
Center. An on-site overview on the use of microirrigation technologies
for wastewater application was conducted for three undergraduate lab classes
(about 15 students in each class) of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
(BAE) and Agricultural Technology Management (ATM) majors at Kansas State
University.
Student Activities:
· A local producer with a relatively
new SDI system had severe plugging after his first year of operation.
The nature and cause of his plugging was evaluated. An acid treatment
scheme was tested in the lab and then implemented on his field. After
three treatments his field based flow rates increased by 33%. (2 undergraduate
students – Jeremy Huser and Matt Steele)