Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Irrigation practices are generally predicated on maximizing crop yield per unit of land. However, accelerating competition for water and increasing concern about environmental impacts of irrigation are forcing a change in this most fundamental paradigm. It is becoming increasingly important that irrigation be managed to maximize benefits, an economic objective, rather than to maximize yield rates, which is a physiological objective. Economically optimum irrigation will generally involve using less water than required to maximize yields. This new paradigm will require more challenging analytical procedures and irrigation practices that few farmers are equipped to deal with today. The fundamental objective of this project is to provide irrigators with scientific, engineering and economic information to assist them in optimizing their use of water. Drawing on four decades of research on irrigation optimization, this project is developing: (i) a practical approach to
irrigation management for maximizing net farm income, and (ii) general analytical tools needed to implement that approach. A general analysis of the problem of irrigation optimization on production farms was done in 2002. The principal elements of the analysis were: (i) comparing and contrasting current standard irrigation management procedures with the procedures that will be required to implement an optimization approach to irrigation; (ii) reviewing related research on sustainability and risk, issues that will be more critical with optimum irrigation; (iii) surveying operations research techniques that other researchers have developed for optimizing irrigation water use, and determining which of those techniques would be most appropriate for real-world operations; (iv) contacting 50 leading irrigation researchers and extension personnel to determine whether principles of irrigation optimization are being rigorously applied in practice anywhere in the world today. The foregoing
study was presented in a journal article (an invited paper for a special edition of the ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering) with two cooperating authors from California and Nebraska, and was also incorporated into two invited presentations at a UN(FAO) conference on irrigation management and an ICID (International Congress for Irrigation and Drainage) conference on irrigation management. During 2002 a proposal was submitted to the USDA (the National Research Initiative program) to move this project to field application. The proposal, which would establish a pilot advisory service to provide locally specific advice to irrigators on strategies to maximize net returns to irrigation, was funded by USDA-NRI at $289,000. Detailed planning for the project and initial work on modeling of water use and crop yields were initiated in October, 2003. The project has attracted international attention. In December 2003 the Principle Investigator outlined the project as a keynote
speaker at a UN conference on water management in the Near East. The project has been terminated due to the early retirement of the Principle Investigator, but the field work continues under the USDA-NRI project (see ORE 00146).
Impacts
Initially, this project will provide irrigation managers and those professionals who advise them with a new model for irrigation advisory services predicated on economic objectives. The ultimate impact of this project will be (i) increased farm profitablity as net returns to water are increased, (ii) reduced water use, since optimzation implies deficit irrigaiton, and (iii) reduced environmental impacts from irrigation as increasing irrigation efficiency results in reduced leaching of nitrates to ground water and reduced surface water pollution from nutrients, biocides and sediment. The proposed pilot advisory service is expected to provide a model for farmers, consultants and other advisory professionals in the western states. Additionally, the work will be closely followed by other states which are cooperating in one way or another. It is now anticipated that the new model for irrigation advisory services will be initiated in at least four other states in parallel
with this project. Ultimately this work will be highlighted in an international conference on optimum irrigation management which is tentatively planned for 2006.
Publications
- English, M., J. BOlte, G. Perry and B. Isbell. 2003. Optimum Irrigation: an opportunity and a challenge. Second Regional UN Conference on Water Demand and Pollution Control; Sharm al-Sheikh, Egypt, December 14-17.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Current irrigation practices are generally predicated on maximizing crop yield per unit of land. However, accelerating competition for water and increasing concern about the environmental impacts of irrigation are forcing a change in this most fundamental paradigm. It is becoming increasingly important that irrigation be managed to maximize benefits, an economic objective, rather than to maximize yield rates, which is a physiological objective. Economically optimum irrigation will generally involve using less water than would be required to maximize yields. This new paradigm will require new and more challenging analytical procedures and irrigation practices that few farmers are equipped to deal with today. The fundamental objective of the present project is to provide irrigators with scientific, engineering and economic information to assist them in optimizing their use of water. Drawing on four decades of research on the subject of irrigation optimization, this
project is developing: (i) a practical approach to irrigation management for maximizing net farm income, and (ii) general analytical tools needed to implement that approach. During 2002 a general analysis of the problem of irrigation optimization on production farms was carried out. The principal elements of that analysis were: (i) comparing and contrasting current standard irrigation management procedures with the procedures that will be required to implement an optimization approach to irrigation; (ii) reviewing related research on sustainability and risk, issues that will be more critical with optimum irrigation; (iii) surveying operations research techniques that other researchers have developed for optimizing irrigation water use, and determining which of those techniques would be most appropriate for real-world operations; (iv) contacting 50 leading irrigation researchers and extension personnel to determine whether principles of irrigation optimization are being rigorously
applied in practice anywhere in the world today. The foregoing study was presented in a journal article (an invited paper for a special edition of the ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering) with two cooperating authors from California and Nebraska, and was also incorporated into two invited presentations at a UN(FAO) conference on irrigation management and an ICID (International Congress for Irrigation and Drainage) conference on irrigation management. Also during 2002 a proposal was submitted to the USDA (under the National Research Initiative program) to move this project into field operations. The proposal calls for a pilot advisory service to be established in Oregon that will provide locally specific advice to irrigators on strategies to maximize net returns to irrigation. The project will be led by three Oregon State University faculty, assisted by an advisory group of ten leading resarch, extension and agricultural professionals from five states (OR, NE, TX, CA,
CO).
Impacts
The ultimate impact of this project will be (i) increased farm profitablity as net returns to water are increased, and (ii) reduced environmental impacts from irrigation as increasing irrigation efficiency results in reduced leaching of nitrates to ground water and reduced surface water pollution from nutrients, biocides and sediment. The proposed pilot advisory service is expected to provide a model for farmers, consultants and other advisory professionals in the western states. Parts of eastern Oregon where water is in short supply (most notably the Klamath Basin at present) will benefit most sigficantly from this work, since the high opportunity costs of water in that region, as well as the more sensitive environmental issues, will amplify the expected benefits.
Publications
- English, M.J., K.H. Solomon, and G.J. Hoffman. 2002. A Paradigm Shift in Irrigation Management. ASCE Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Vol. 128, No. 5 (October).
- English, M.J. 2002. An Irrigation Advisory Service for Optimum Use of Limited Water. In: United Nations (FAO) Expert Consultancy on Irrigation Advisory Services in the Near East Region; Hammamet, Tunisia (May).
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
The original objectives of ORE00197 were focused on modeling of furrow irrigation to improve irrigation management and emphasized calibration of specific models of water movement and disposition, erosion, sediment loss and non-point source pollution from phosphorus losses in runoff and nitrate leaching to ground water under furrow irrigation. Those models were then to be used to evaluate furrow irrigation management strategies. The project was revised in 1998 at which time a new focus was adopted. Since 1998 the objectives have focused on formulation of guidelines for optimum irrigation management. With respect to the objectives of the original version of ORE00197 which was in effect from 1993 to 1998, the progress has been: a) Two grants for approximately $200,000 were obtained for field research to support the project objectives. b) The USDA model of furrow irrigation (SRFR) was calibrated using extensive field data from the experiment station and cooperating farms
in Malheur County, OR. c) Additional models of erosion and nitrate leaching under furrow irrigation were developed and calibrated with field data from the same sources. d) These models were then used to study alternative strategies for irrigation management that would be acceptable to regional farmers while reducing percolation, erosion, sediment loss and non-point source pollution from nitrate leaching. With respect to the revised objectives, the progress since 1998 has been: a) An initial (trial) effort to develop advice for optimum irrigation on a production farm. That effort is in progress. b) A five state consortium (OR, WA, NE, TX and MT) was formed under the leadership of the PI to prepare a series of proposals to fund projects in each of the states that would develop optimum irrigation guidelines for general use. These guidelines would be made available to the general community through pilot irrigation advisory services. To date, those proposals have not yielded any funding,
but the effort is continuing. c) Similar proposals for specific advisory services in OR have been prepared. The outcomes of those proposals are undetermined at this writing. d) The background literature reviews, research and analysis done in conjunction with these proposals has been distilled in a series of publications that outlines the principles of optimum irrigation and the factors to be considered in formulating an optimum irrigation strategy. These papers also outline the available analytical tools and suggested approach to be taken in developing optimum strategies. e) Invited presentations based on these papers have been made at two international conferences, a UN (FAO) regional conference on irrigation management in the Near East (a keynote address) and the International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage congress.
Impacts
With respect to the original version of ORE00197, the primary impact has been the use of the SRFR model as an extension and education tool. Following the field research and subsequent analysis, the model was adapted for use in extension presentations and educational modules dealing with improved management of furrow irrigation. A secondary impact has derived from the participation of the research team in a national assessment of the SRFR model in cooperation with USDA-ARS Water Conservation Lab. The experience gained from use of the model under eastern Oregon conditions has influenced refinement of the USDA-ARS model by the USDA-ARS group. With respect to the broader project (since 1998) the impacts of this in-progress project are still limited. The background work on the principles of irrigation management done in the early stage of this project provided the basis for a four-day intensive short course (Advanced Topics in Irrigation Management) for professional
irrigation managers in the Pacific Northwest. Additional impacts directly related to this project include a cooperative research effort on Modeling Crop Stress for Irrigation Management, funded by the U.S. Department of State, Office of International Cooperation and Development, as part of a program of research and scientific exchanges involving Dr. Josef Huzulok of the Irrigation Research Institute of Slovakia, and (ii) formulation of guidelines for irrigation system design and management under conditions of high climatic variability on the Oregon coast, a project funded by the Oregon Cranberry Grower's Association.
Publications
- Trimmer, W.L. and M.J. English, 1997. "Conserving Water in Agriculture; Stretching Irrigation Water Supplies." Pacific Northwest Extension Publication No. 323. Oregon, Idaho, Washington. Revised Sept.
- English. M.J., R. Mittlestadt, and J.R. Miner. 1996. "Irrigation Management Practices: Checklist for Oregon." EM 8644. OSU Extension Service, August.
- English, M.J. 2002. "An Irrigation Advisory Service for Optimum Use of Limited Water." United Nations (FAO) Expert Consultancy on Irrigation Advisory Services for the Near East Region, Hammamet, Tunisia, May 13-16.
- English, M.J. 1997. "Partial Irrigation; A Fundamental Change"; Proceedings, Int. Association for Hydraulic Research, XXVII Congress, San Francisco, August.
- English, M.J. (Ed.) "Managing Water; Coping with Scarcity and Abundance." Vol. 2 of Proceedings of XXVII Congress, International Association for Hydraulic Research, San Francisco, August, 1997.
- English, M.J., Solomon, K. H., and Hoffman, G. J. 2002. "A Paradigm Shift in Irrigation Management". Publication scheduled for October, 2002. J. Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, ASCE.
- English, M. J. 1999. "Determining optimum application efficiencies." Proceedings, Symposium on Irrigation Efficiency, International Water Resources Engineering Conference, American Soc. of Civil Engr. Seattle, August.
- English, M. J., and Raja, S. N. 1996. Perspectives on deficit irrigation. Agricultural Water Management 32:1-14.
- Licht, L., E. Aitchison, W. Schnabel, M. English and M. Kaempf. 2001. "Landfill Capping with Woodland Ecosystems." Practice Periodical of Hazardous, Toxic and Radioactive Waste Management Vol. 5, No. 4, October.
- Ortega, S.A., R.H. Cuenca and M.J. English. 1995. Application of Penman Montieth Equation in a Maritime Climate. Journal ASCE-ID, Vol. 12.1(6), Nov.-Dec.
- English, M.J. 1997. Under-irrigating To Boost Profits. The Irrigation Journal, Nov./Dec.
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Progress 01/01/94 to 12/30/94
Outputs
ORE00197 Three primary activities were carried out under this project during thepast year: (1) Modeling of furrow irrigation to control water quality: This effort is approximately 70% complete. Calibration and testing of needed physical models is essentially complete. These models have been transferred to a UNIX platform for inclusion in a regional GIS, and are also being incorporate into an integrated package to evaluate water use, erosion, sediment yield and nitrate leaching under alternative furrow irrigation practices. Data, hardware and software to develop a regional GIS for this project have all been acquired and several GIS fields developed. Efforts to involve regional professionals in the project have been initiated (See also project ORE00193). (2) Development of a project Relating to regional management of agricultural water use: A $2 million proposal was developed for analysis of ways to mitigate water quality impacts of irrigated agriculture in the Umatilla
River Basin. Eight co-principal investigators are involved, with technical expertise in irrigation, ground water, economics, nitrate movement in the vadose zone, stream morphology and salmonid habitat restoration. Development of the proposal was funded by local water use stakeholders. (3) A cooperative effort for modeling stress in irrigated crops was initiated with funding from the US Department of State. Activities under this project began with a ten day visit by a cooperating Slovakian scientist for purposes of project plannin.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- KUEHN, E. J., MJ. ENGLISH AND K.J. WILLIAMSON. 1995. Plant surface area and wetland treatment efficiency. Proceedings, 1st International Water Resources Engineering Conference, San Antonio, TX, August 14-18.
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Progress 01/01/93 to 12/30/93
Outputs
A two-year project to analyze irrigation practices in Malheur County was initiated. The objective is to identify new irrigation techniques or improvements to existing techniques which will minimize nitrate leaching in the region. Parallel objectives are to maximize water use efficiency and minimize sediment yield from furrow irrigated fields. The initial phase of the project involved identification of existing models to be used in the analysis, and collection of field data for use in calibration and testing of the models. During this reporting period, a model of furrow hydraulics and infiltration (SRFR), a two-dimensional model of water movement and solute transport in the soil profile (SWMS-2D) and a model of erosion and sediment yield in furrows (FUSED) were installed on computers in Corvallis and Ontario. Field data were collected at the Ontario Branch Experiment Station and used for a first round of calibration and testing of the models. Additional data were
collected on cooperating farms in the region. The people who developed each of the models were brought to Corvallis for consultation and review of model performance, and two of the models were substantially modified by their authors as a result. The models are now performing satisfactorily, though further calibration and testing of these models will be carried out in 1994 using a larger data set and using data collected under circumstances not encountered during the 1993 season (such as more rapid applications of water, steeper slopes, etc.).
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period.
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