Variable Rate Irrigation Management: While variable rate irrigation provides farmers with a tool to spatially allocate limited water resources along with potentially increasing profits, management of these irrigation systems requires rapid and reliable data. We conducted variable rate irrigation experiments using vegetative-index sensors mounted on both tractor and aircraft to estimate plant biomass; and using infra-red thermometers mounted on a tractor to measure crop canopy temperatures. ARS Scientists Collaborate to Increase Irrigation Accuracy More Information: Water Flow Rates from a Site-Specific... Interpretive SummaryFull PDF Opportunities for Conservation with Precision Irrigation Interpretive SummaryFull PDF
Peanut Spatial Irrigation Management: Determining how best to use spatial irrigation technology will likely increase grower income while lowering water consumption by agriculture. We initiated an experiment to evaluated spatial irrigation scheduling using 1) soil water potentials, 2) the Irrigator Pro model for spatial management zones, and 3) the Irrigator Pro model for uniform management zones.
Soil Electrical Conductivity May be Useful in Developing Prescription Irrigation Maps on Coastal Plain Soils: Site-specific irrigation, or applying water at variable rates throughout a field, is technologically feasible, but information is needed to determine how best to use this technology. We found that a relationship exists between the timing of the onset of cotton plant water stress and electrical conductivity of the soil on a Coastal Plain field. More Information: Crop growth and soil.. Technical Abstract
Narrow-Row Corn Production with Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation: To conserve soil moisture for agronomic crop production, we investigated feasibility of producing narrow row corn with subsurface drip irrigation combined with conservation tillage. We found that plant biomass and yield decreased significantly with distance from the SDI laterals. More Information: Narrow-Row Corn Production with Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation..Technical Abstract