Progress 10/01/99 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Objective 1. Seasonal water-use (irrigation and soil moisture) data were collected from several center-pivot irrigated fields of alfalfa, field corn, and potato on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project in northwestern New Mexico. Total seasonal measured ET (69, 79, and 109 cm for potato, corn, and alfalfa, respectively) and economic yields (56, 13.3, and 15.7 Mg ha-1, respectively) were similar to modeled estimates based on crop coefficients (Kcs) formulated for these crops during previous studies at NMSUs Agricultural Science Center at Farmington. Irrigation scheduling models, based on the calibrated Kcs, are being formulated to assist growers in developing efficient irrigation management programs for these crops. Objective 2. Using a sprinkler line-source design to vary irrigation treatments, seasonal water requirements were identified for several cool season and warm season turfgrass cultivars in northwestern New Mexico. The average seasonal water-use to sustain an
acceptable quality turf was 64 cm for warm season grasses (buffalograss, bermudagrass, and blue grama) and 94 cm for cool season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass). Peak summer average daily water-use rates ranged from 4.6 mm for warm season turf to 5.8 mm for cool season turf. Landscape coefficients and climate-based irrigation scheduling recommendations for turfgrass were developed that may have wide ranging applicability in the Intermountain West and turfgrass transition zone.
Impacts
This research has resulted in the formulation of seasonal crop coefficients that can be used to efficiently schedule irrigations on agricultural crops and turfgrass in northwestern New Mexico and similar areas of the Intermountain West. The volume of water that can potentially be saved through crop coefficient-based irrigation scheduling on agricultural crops has not yet been accurately quantified due to incomplete survey analyses. In urban communities, it is estimated that irrigation volumes applied to turfgrass exceed requirements by two to four times. Much of this excessive irrigation has been attributed to a lack of accurate turfgrass water-use estimates to efficiently schedule irrigations. By using the climate-based crop coefficients developed during this research project to schedule irrigations, water volumes applied to turf areas could potentially be reduced by more than half.
Publications
- Smeal, D. and O'Neill, M. 2004. How to grow lush green turfgrass lawns whilst using less water. Inter. Water & Irrig. Vol. 24: 12-16.
|
Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Objective 1. Irrigation and soil moisture data have been collected in several sprinkler-irrigated alfalfa, corn, and potato fields on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. Data reduction and analyses is in progress. Objective 2. Crop coefficients have been developed for several varieties of cool season and warm season turfgrasses that were planted in 1997. Work is underway to validate these crop coefficients for use in irrigation scheduling throughout the southwestern U.S. Additionally, irrigation treatments were initiated in 2003 to evaluate the water requirements of additional (different) turfgrasses that were planted in study plots in 2001.
Impacts
The crop coefficients formulated during this study have been used in the development of web-based irrigation scheduling spreadsheets [available on the New Mexico Climate Center web site ()] for cool season and warm season turfgrasses. While the direct impacts of these specific irrigation programs are unknown at this time, the potential beneficial economic, environmental, and social impacts of climate-based irrigation scheduling can be substantial.
Publications
- Smeal, D., T. Sammis, M.K. O'Neill, and R.N. Arnold. 2003. Climate-based irrigation scheduling for warm season and cool season turfgrasses. Proc. 24th. IA Inter. Irrig. Show and Tech. Conf. 'Understanding and Addressing Conservation and Recycled Water Irrigation.' San Diego, CA, Nov. 15-22, 2003. pp. 334-345. Available on CD from Irrig. Assoc., Falls Church, VA.
|
Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Crop coefficients for estimating turfgrass water requirements or evapotranspiration (ET) were developed during 1998-2001. To validate the reliability of these estimates for use in irrigation scheduling, the coefficients were used to schedule irrigations on established cool season and warm season turfgrasses at Farmington, NM in 2002. Irrigations were provided by a solid-set sprinkler system and the depths of water applied were measured after all irrigations with catch-cans. Total seasonal applied water (precipitation included) was 40 inches and 31 inches in the cool season and warm season grasses, respectively. These depths were about equal to the estimated seasonal ET of 41 and 30 inches for the respective grasses. Water stress was not noted in any of the grasses, indicating sufficient water had been applied to satisfy crop ET. Some deep soil water percolation, attributable to rainfall in September and October, however, was noted in the warm season grasses. Two
additional turfgrass plots that were planted in 2001 were irrigated uniformly during 2002 for establishment. The cool season turf plot consisted of bluegrasses, fescues, alkaligrass, turtleturf, and wheatgrasses. Varieties in the warm season plot included bermudagrasses, buffalograsses, blue grama, and zoysia. Irrigation treatments using a single line-source design will be implemented on these plots in 2003.
Impacts
These crop coefficients have been used to develop a turfgrass irrigation-scheduling program that can potentially be used throughout the southwest U.S. to efficiently schedule irrigations based on plant water needs. Efficient irrigation scheduling can minimize water waste, excessive pumping or delivery costs, maintenance and fertilizer costs, and environmental degradation associated with over-irrigation.
Publications
- Smeal, D., M.K. O'Neill, T.W. Sammis, J.F. Tomko, and R.N. Arnold. 2001. Development of crop coefficients for turfgrass irrigation scheduling. Amer. Soc. Agron Abstract No. 1124.
|
Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
To accomplish the objectives (in part) of this research, varying sprinkler-irrigation levels were provided to several cultivars of warm season (bermudagrass, buffalograss and gramagrass) and cool season (bluegrass, ryegrass and fescue) turfgrass cultivars between 1998 and 2000. Measurements of applied water and soil-water provided estimates of plant water-use (ET) at each irrigation level. Turf quality was evaluated at all irrigation levels throughout each season. The average, total seasonal water-use for acceptable quality was about 48% greater in the cool season grasses than the warm season grasses (940 mm vs. 635 mm, respectively). Peak daily water-use averaged 5.8 mm in the cool season grasses and 4.6 mm in the warm season grasses. Seasonal crop-coefficients for irrigation scheduling were formulated and will be displayed on line at http://weather.nmsu.edu. Similar study plots to evaluate additional turfgrass cultivars were planted in 2001 and this research will be
continued. To evaluate irrigation efficiencies and validate recommended irrigation scheduling parameters on agronomic crops, irrigation application efficiencies were evaluated on several center-pivot sprinkler systems on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. A high degree of variability between irrigation scheduling recommendations, based on previously formulated crop-coefficients, and actual water application depths indicate that improvements in system management techniques can greatly increase irrigation efficiencies and enhance crop production. Data analyses are in progress and evaluations will continue in 2002.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Two separate sprinkler line-source designs were used to provide variable irrigation treatments to several cultivars of established cool-season and warm-season turfgrasses at Farmington, NM in 2000. Turf evapotranspiration (ET) was measured at five irrigation levels throughout the season within each cultivar using the water balance approach. Turfgrass growth and quality were evaluated several times during the season by independent judges and researchers. Overall, the warm-season grasses (bermudagrass, buffalograss, and blue grama grass) required about 40% less water than the cool-season grasses (bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue) to maintain an acceptable quality (635 mm vs. 1040 mm, respectively). Peak daily ET ranged from a high average of 6.9 mm for Seville perennial rygrass to a low of 4.8 mm for Bison buffalograss. Crop-coefficent curves were formulated for each grass by correlating measured ET to climatic parameters (or reference ET) for development
of a baseline irrigation-scheduling spreadsheet. Work will continue in upcoming seasons to validate and calibrate these crop-coefficients.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Smeal, D., T. Sammis, and J. Tomko. 2000. Water use of cool season and warm season turfgrasses in northwestern New Mexico. Proc. SW Turfgrass Assoc. 2000 Ann. Conf. Pgs. 35-55.
- Smeal, D., T.W. Sammis, J.F. Tomko, and R.N. Arnold. 2000. Development of crop coefficients for turfgrass irrigation scheduling. Proc. National Irrigation Symposium, Nov. 14-16, 2000. ASAE Abstract Addendum.
|
|