Progress Report on Microirrigation in Texas, 2003.
Steve Evett, Soil Scientist, Lead Scientist
- Crop Water Use and Irrigation
Research Team
Soil and Water Management Research Unit
USDA-ARS, P.O. Drawer 10 (2300 Experiment
Station Road), Bushland, Texas
79012 USA
806-356-5775, FAX: 806-356-5750
srevett@cprl.ars.usda.gov,
http:/www.cprl.ars.usda.gov/programs/
We took our drip experiments out of production
this year while we designed
a new, larger, more field sized drip irrigation
facility. Paul Colaizzi is
leading the design effort for this facility
and has already installed the
head works (pump, filters, flow meters,
etc.). We are meeting this week
(Paul, Terry Howell and I) to finalize
the design and layout of the drip
lines in the field, which is about 20
acres. I've just spoken with Freddie
Lamm about including our project plan
for this new drip irrigation research
in the new W-128 report. Unfortunately,
we have nothing to report for this
year except that we are actively planning
new drip research activities. Our
research will involve comparing the effect
of different drip tape depths on
soil temperatures, uniformity of seed
bed wetting, and uniformity of
emergence, using both conventional 30-inch
bed spacings and a wide bed with
two rows of plants on either side of a
buried tape, with a larger interrow.
Emergence is the biggest unresolved problem
we have with drip here.