Progress 06/01/08 to 05/30/13
Outputs
OUTPUTS: In each year of this project the findings were reported at multiple local and regional conferences, crop management schools, and field tours that reached producers as well as professional peers involved in limited irrigation and water resource management research. Industry partners in sugar beet and dry bean production also received information from this project via annual oral and written research reports to the sugar beet cooperative research committee and Nebraska Dry Bean Commission members. Trials with a subsurface drip irrigation system allowed for examination of water stress in corn hybrids which was part of a larger statewide project in four different Nebraska locations. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals also working on the project included extension educator Jim Schild; research technicians David Reichert and Gene Kizzire; collaborating research and extension faculty at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center; and UNL irrigation engineers William Kranz, Suat Irmak, Derrel Martin, and Simon von Donk. Partner organizations were Western Sugar Grower Cooperative, Nebraska Dry Bean Commission; and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Opportunities for training or professional development included attendance at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists, and Central Plains Irrigation Conference. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences throughout the entire project were local producers, crop consultants, government agency personnel, agricultural industry personnel; professional peers at major professional society conferences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Water stresses in the dry bean and sugar beet production areas of western Nebraska are common, and will increasingly be a contributing factor in the profitability and sustainability of crops in this High Plains agroecosystem. The multi-year project has shown that sugar beets should be watered at or near 100% of evapotranspiration (ET) early in the season, whereas yield in dry beans is least negatively impacted when water stress occurs later in the growing season (watering at 100% of ET during the pod fill period is most important if irrigation water is limited, compared to watering at less than 100% during the other periods.)
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Pioneer Variety Trial. 2012 was the third year where a subsurface drip irrigation system is being used to study the impact of water stress on four different corn hybrids as part of a statewide project that is being conducted at four different locations across Nebraska. The hybrids are subjected to three different irrigation treatments (full irrigation, early shut off [blister] and no irrigation), two plant populations (24,000 and 34,000) and four replications. Findings of these projects have been disseminated at multiple local and regional educational conferences, field days and tours. Sugar Beet Project. The 2012 research, the first year for the study, involved 7 irrigation treatments, with the incorporation of residue covered plots and those left bare, or conventionally prepared. To date, not all the data have been analyzed, however neutron probe numbers indicate higher soil moisture retention in those plots having the residue cover at planting time. Other yield parameters to be evaluated include tons per acre, sugar loss to molasses, and percent sugar. Dry Bean Project. The dry bean project looks at how water stress, influences yield during three different and distinct periods in plant development: vegetative, flowering, and pod fill. The below normal rainfall during the year provided the typical response to the irrigation treatments; less water equated to less yield. Furthermore, the 2012 results reinforce the trend that we've been seeing, that yield is least negatively impacted when water stress occurs later in the growing season. Tillage Project. This tillage study compares yield and crop performance of 3 crops (sugarbeets, dry beans, and corn) being grown with three tillage methods, conventional, zone till, and no till. Additionally this research examines the effect of 3 year rotations vs. 4 year rotations with these crops. PARTICIPANTS: Jim Schild, extension educator, and David Reichert and Gene Kizzire, research technicians, were integral to the project, as well as other cooperating faculty members at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. Partial funding for these projects has come from Western Sugar Grower Cooperative Research Committee, Nebraska Dry Bean Commission and Pioneer Hi-Bred. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local producers, consultants, government agency and agricultural industry personnel were targeted during educational meetings, field tours, field days and professional conferences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Sugarbeets and dry edible beans are two crops that complement each other in the timing of irrigation scheduling, sugar beets should be watered at or near 100% of ET early in the season, and dry beans should be watered at 100% of ET during the pod fill period late season, watering at less than 100% during the other periods, if water is lacking, would have the least impact on yield for those crops. Crop Management Workshop on Sunflowers. Information regarding sunflower production was shared at an in depth crop management workshop for the crop insurance industry, crop consultants, industry personnel and extension educators in the summer 2012.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The fifth year of a five year project to evaluate the impact of water stress on sugarbeet was completed. In 2010 a similar project was started with dry bean production. Nine season long irrigation treatments are being evaluated by applying irrigation to meet specified ET replacement levels that include precipitation. Five season long irrigation treatments to meet uniform fractions of evapotranspiration (ET) requirements of the crop include 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 percent of full irrigation. Four additional treatments have ET applications split between early and late season growth. Those treatments are ET replacements of 100% early and 50% late, 75% early and 25% late, 50% early and 100% late and 25% early and 75% late. Each irrigation treatment is replicated six times. Landscape lawn sprinklers are used in a solid set sprinkler irrigation system as a method to reduce land requirement and improve application uniformity. A subsurface drip irrigation system is being used to study the impact of water stress on four different corn hybrids as part of a statewide project that is being conducted at four different locations across Nebraska. The hybrids are subjected to three different irrigation treatments (full irrigation , early shut off [blister] and no irrigation), two plant populations (24,000 and 34,000) and four replications. Findings of these projects have been disseminated at multiple local and regional educational conferences, field days and tours. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local producers, consultants, government agency and agricultural industry personnel were targeted during educational meetings, field tours, field days and professional conferences. PARTICIPANTS: Jim Schild, extension educator, and David Reichert and Gene Kizzire, research technicians, were integral to the project, as well as other cooperating faculty members at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. Partial funding for these projects has come from Western Sugar Grower Cooperative Research Committee, Nebraska Dry Bean Commission and Pioneer Hi-Bred. TARGET AUDIENCES: Information regarding deficit irrigation and impact on dry bean cropping systems were shared at an indepth crop management workshop for the crop insurance industry, crop consultants, industry personnel and extension educators in Summer 2011. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Sugar Beet Project. Results from 2011 reinforce the trend from earlier years, that stressing sugar beets early in the growing season has a significant negative effect on sugar yield per acre. Highest yields from 2011 and averaged over the last 5 years occur with irrigation at 100% of ET season long. Reducing early season irrigation to 75% of ET only had a yield reduction of 7%, while reducing early season irrigation to 50% of ET had an 11% yield reduction. Reducing it down further to 25% had an 18% reduction in yield while no irrigation water had a 43% reduction in yield over the 100 ET irrigation treatments. If the beets were stressed early season and then return to higher irrigation treatments, yield did not respond accordingly. Sugar loss to molasses was higher in these treatments suggesting that stress early followed by increasing water amounts may increase pressure from disease and or insects. The results from this study show that if irrigation water is limited the time to reduce water use is late season, as this has the least negative impact on yield. Dry Bean Project. The dry bean project was changed in 2011 to look at three different distinct periods in the plants development. Planting to flower, flower to pod formation, and pod fill to maturity. Each period represents roughly a third of the growing season. In 2011, the planting to blooming period, experienced above normal rainfall. Yield was not significantly impacted by the irrigation treatments except in the treatment which had no irrigation in the last period of pod fill. This treatment received 100% of ET in the first two periods and no irrigation in the last period. Yield was reduced by 20% over the other treatments. The no irrigation treatment reduced yield by 50%. In the case of dry beans, if water is limited, the time to reduce water use is early in the season but water at 100% ET late in the growing season. These two crops complement each other in the timing of irrigation scheduling, sugar beets should be watered at or near 100% of ET early in the season and dry beans should be watered at 100% of ET during the pod fill period late season, watering at less than 100% during the other periods if water is lacking would have the least impact on yield for those crops.
Publications
- LaRue, J. and C.D. Yonts. 2011. Irrigation Water Supply. Chapter 6. L. Stetson and B Mecham, editors. Irrigation. 6th Edition. Falls Church, VA: Irrigation Association.
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The fourth year of a four year project to evaluate the impact of water stress on sugarbeet production was completed. Nine season long irrigation treatments are being evaluated by applying irrigation to meet specified ET replacement levels that include precipitation. Five season long irrigation treatments to meet uniform fractions of evapotranspiration (ET) requirements of the crop include 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 percent of full irrigation. Four additional treatments have ET applications split between early and late season growth. Those treatments are ET replacements of 100% early and 50% late, 75% early and 25% late, 50% early and 100% late and 25% early and 75% late. Each irrigation treatment is replicated six times. Landscape lawn sprinklers are used in a solid set sprinkler irrigation system as a method to reduce land requirement and improve application uniformity. Using the same type of irrigation system, a similar experimental trial with dry beans was started in 2010. Uniform irrigation treatments were again 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0 percent of full irrigation. The remaining irrigation treatments were irrigated at different percentages based on the vegetative, reproductive and maturation stages of growth. The treatments were 100/100/0, 50/50/100, 100/50/50 and 50/100/50. A subsurface drip irrigation system is being used to study the impact of water stress on four different corn hybrids as part of a statewide project that is being conducted at four different locations across Nebraska. The hybrids are subjected to three different irrigation treatments (full irrigation , early shut off(blister) and no irrigation), two plant populations (24,000 and 34,000) and four replications. Findings of these projects have been disseminated at over ten local and regional educational conferences as well as field days and field tours. PARTICIPANTS: Partial funding for these projects has come from Western Sugar Grower Cooperative Research Committee, Nebraska Dry Bean Commission and Pioneer Hi-Bred.. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local producers, consultants, government agency and agricultural industry personnel were targeted during educational meetings, field tours, field days and professional conferences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project. PARTICIPANTS: Partial funding for these projects has come from Western Sugar Grower Cooperative Research Committee, Nebraska Dry Bean Commission and Pioneer Hi-Bred. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local producers, consultants, government agency and agricultural industry personnel were targeted during educational meetings, field tours, field days, workshops and professional conferences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Preliminary results indicate that sugarbeet is an efficient user of water. When precipitation was reduced early in the growing season, 2008, crop yields were reduced more than if precipitation was more abundant early in the growing season,such as in 2009, and late season water availability was adequate. This information is providing producers and the industry confidence that sugarbeets can be grown even when drought or water restrictions exist. In the North Platte Valley of Nebraska, conversion from furrow to sprinkler irrigation continues at a rate of nearly 10,000 acres a year. With this change in irrigation systems, producers are willing to irrigate sugarbeets earlier in the growing season because labor and timing with other field practices are no longer an issue when using center pivots. Preliminary results from the first year of study on the impact of water stress on dry bean yield indicate that reducing irrigation amount by 10-15% over the season did not reduce crop yield compared to full irrigation. At the same time, reducing rhe amount of irrigation water applied by 30-35% resulted in a 25% reduction in yield. Reducing irrigation by 40-45% reduced yields by 50%. Under no irrigation, dry land, yields were reduced to only 20% of full irrigation.
Publications
- 1. Urrea, C.A., C.D. Yonts, and J. Smith. 2010. Effect of soil compaction and irrigation management in dry bean production. Annu. Rept. Bean Improv. Coop. 53:14-15. 2. Yonts, C. Dean. 2010. Deficit Irrigation of Dry Edible Beans during Early, Mid and Late Season. Proceedings of the 5th Decennial Irrigation Conference
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The third year of a four year project to evaluate the impact of water stress on sugarbeet production was completed. Nine season long irrigation treatments are being evaluated by applying irrigation to meet specified ET replacement levels that include precipitation. Four season long irrigation treatments to meet uniform fractions of the evapotranspiration (ET) requirements of the crop include 100, 75, 50, and 25 percent of ET. Four additional treatments have ET applications split between early and late season growth. Those treatments are ET replacements of 100% early and 50% late, 75% early and 25% late, 50% early and 100% late and 25% early and 75% late. The final treatment is no irrigation season long. Each irrigation treatment is replicated six times. Landscape lawn sprinklers are used in a solid set sprinkler irrigation system as a method to reduce land requirement and variability. A similar irrigation system is being constructed to begin an experiment in 2010 on the impact of season long water stress on dry bean production. A subsurface drip irrigation system is being used to study the impact of water stress on crop yields in a no-till corn and dry bean rotation. The interaction of different levels of water stress and soil compaction and dry bean cultivars have been studied during the 2007 - 2009 growing seasons. A study on the selection for drought tolerance in dry bean was completed. PARTICIPANTS: Partial funding for these projects has come from the Western Sugar Grower Cooperative Research Committee and the Nebraska Dry Bean Commission. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local producers, consultants, government agency and agricultural industry personnel were targeted during educational meetings, field tours, field days and professional conferences. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Preliminary results indicate that sugarbeet is an efficient user of water. When precipitation is reduced early in the growing season, 2008, crop yield is reduced more than if precipitation is more abundant early in the growing season, 2009 and late season water availability is adequate. This information is providing producers and the industry confidence that sugarbeets can be grown even when drought or water restrictions exist. In the North Platte Valley of Nebraska, conversion from furrow to sprinkler irrigation continues at a rate of nearly 10,000 acres a year. With this change in irrigation systems, producers are willing to irrigate sugarbeets earlier in the growing season because labor and timing with other field practices are not longer an issue when using center pivots. Results of dry bean experiments indicate that water stress results in a reduction to dry bean yields regardless of when water stress occurs. Early season water stress causes greater reduction in dry bean yields than does mid or late season water stress. Results from the dry bean drought tolerance study indicate that on average, yield was 60% less, 100-seed weight was 19.2% lower, and maturity occurred 4 days earlier when drought stress was allowed from the onset of flowering through harvest.
Publications
- Urrea, C.A., C.D. Yonts, D.J. Lyon and A.E. Koehler. 2009. Selection for drought tolerance in dry bean derived from the Mesoamerican gene pool in western Nebraska. Crop Sci. 49:2005-2010.
- Yonts, C.D. 2009. Development of season long deficit irrigation strategies for sugarbeets. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract), American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists, 35th Biennial Meeting, Orlando, Florida.
- Urrea, C.A., C.D. Yonts, D.L. Lyon, and A. Koehler. 2009. Selection for drought tolerance in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) derived from Mesoamerican race in western Nebrsaka. The Bean bag 27(1); 18 & 21.
- Urrea, C.A., C.D. Yonts, and J.A. Smith. 2009. Effect of soil compaction and irrigation in dry bean production. The Bean Improv. Coop. O-07:: 20
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Data was collected in 2008 during the second year of a season long sugarbeet water stress experiment. Nine irrigation treatments ranging from full irrigation to no irrigation are being tested using a solid set sprinkler system equipped with small landscape sprinkler devices. In 2008 data shows that a decline in yield results regardless of when water stress occurs. When water supply is limited, it appears that using more of the available water early in the growing season provides better yields compared to saving water and irrigating later in the growing season. A four year experiment on dry bean has been completed studying the impact of water stress during a 27 day period starting at flowering of the plants. Water stress was imposed during three nine day intervals. Preliminary results indicate that the same reduction in yield occurs regardless of when water stress is imposed. A subsurface drip irrigation(SDI) system is being used to study the long term effect of limited irrigation on a rotation of corn and dry bean using no till. Supplying 75% of ET requirements using SDI provides nearly equal yield as irrigation to meet full ET requirements determined through weather station data. PARTICIPANTS: In coopration with other subject matter specialists, a two day crop management workshop on dry beans was held for 95 crop insurance adjustors from the region. Sugarbeet and dry bean experiments were included in various field days and tours for producers and ag professionals. Individuals working on these projects include David Reichert, technician, Josh Hoffman, summer student and Libby Ediger, summer student. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Western Nebraska has experienced drought beginning in 2002. Water restrictions have been in place for both surface and ground water users. Results of water stress experiments are shared during field tours and training to assist producers cope with drought conditions. Results indicate that some water stress can be tolerated by a crop and yet still produce a viable yield. As conversion from furrow to sprinkler irrigation occurs, more producers are changing irrigation timing and are irrigating earlier in the growing season because labor is no longer a major issue.
Publications
- Kranz, William L., Suat Irmak, Simon van Donk, C. Dean Yonts, Derrel L. Martin. 2008. Irrigation Management for Corn. NebGuide G1850. UNL Extension.
- Kranz, William L., Derrel l. Martin, Suat Irmak, Simon J. van Donk, C. Dean Yonts. 2008. Minimum center pivot design capacities in Nebraska. NebGuide G1851. UNL Extension.
- Yonts, C.D. and D.E. Eisenhauer. 2008. Surge Irrigation Field Layouts. NebGuide G1869. UNL Extension.
- Yonts, C.D. and D.E. Eisenhauer. 2008. Fundamentals of Surge Irrigation. NebGuide G1870. UNL Extension.
- Yonts, C.D. and D.E. Eisenhauer. 2008. Surge Irrigation Management. NebGuide G1868. UNL Extension.
- Yonts, C.D. and S.R. Melvin. 2008. Predicting the Last Irrigation of the Season. NebGuide G1871. UNL Extension.
- Yonts, C.D. 2008. Using Polyacrylamide to Reduce Soil Erosion. NebGuide G1866. UNL Extension.
- Yonts, C.D. and D.E. Eisenhauer. 2008. Nebraska Surge Irrigation Trials. NebGuide G1867. UNL Extension.
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A season long sugarbeet water stress experiment was started in 2007 to study the impact of different levels of water stress throughout the growing season on sugarbeet production. Nine irrigation treatments are used to evaluate water stress levels ranging from full irrigation to no irrigation. Treatments included irrigation during the growing season for full ET replacement, 0.75 ET replacement, 0.50 ET replacement, 0.25 ET replacement and 0.0 ET replacement. The four remaining treatments varied the amount of irrigation water applied during the first and second half of the growing season. Those treatments were full irrigation early followed by 0.50 ET replacement, 0.50 ET replacement early followed by full irrigation, 0.75 ET replacement early followed by 0.25 ET replacement and 0.25 ET replacement early followed by 0.75 ET replacement. A solid set sprinkler system was designed using landscape irrigation sprinklers to establish plots that were 22 X 44 feet in size. This plot
size allowed for testing two varieties and yet keeping the total plot area to 1.2 acres that help reduce experimental costs and errors due to soil variability. A second water stress experiment, initiated in 2005, is being conducted to evaluate the impact of water stress during mid season growth of dry bean. The experiment is planned for one more year of data collection. Two separate experiments are being conducted using different irrigation systems, furrow and sprinkler. Six irrigation treatments are used in each experiment. Water treatments are a combination of irrigation or no irrigation during 3-nine day periods starting in mid July and ending in mid August. Approximately 2.4 inches of water can be applied or withheld during each nine day time period. For the furrow trial the soil profile was refilled and the irrigated plots received all water at the beginning of the nine day treatment period. For the sprinkler experiment, 0.8 inches of irrigation water was applied on the first,
third and sixth day of the treatment period. During 2005-2007, eliminating sprinkler irrigation during one of the nine day treatment periods resulted in an 18% yield reduction. When irrigation was eliminated for two nine day periods, yield was reduced 40%. When using furrow irrigation, yield reduction was less, 15% reduction for no irrigation during one nine day treatment period and only 22% when irrigation was stopped for two nine day periods. Because the soil profile was refilled every nine days, furrow irrigation resulted in more water available for crop production and thus less yield loss. A third experiment is being conducted using subsurface drip irrigation on a rotation of corn and dry bean. This trial was conducted for the fourth year in 2007 with irrigation treatments that included 1.25 ET, 1.0 ET, 0.75ET and 0.5 ET. Irrigation treatments are assigned to a given plot area for the duration of the experiment. Current year results are being analyzed.
PARTICIPANTS: C. Dean Yonts, project director, David L. Reichert, project technician, Paul Hartman, project summer technician. Experiments were used in field day and field tours for training of producers.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience includes irrigated sugarbeet, drybean and corn producers, fieldmen, agronomists and consultants.
Impacts
In Nebraska, regulations on water use imposed by state and local government have resulted in well drilling moratoriums and restrictions on the amount of water that can be applied to the land. Producers are therefore looking for methods of reducing irrigation that will result in the least amount of impact on crop production. Experiments on induced water stress during the growing season provide producers with the knowledge needed to understand the potential yield reductions that result from limited water. It will also help them decide whether using an alternative crops is an alternative to limiting irrigation on currently grown crops. In addition, experiments associated with finding ways to maintain crop production with less water input and more efficient use of rainfall, provides farmers with crop production options necessary as acres under irrigation are reduced and dryland acres increase. Intermediate results of these studies have been presented at numerous field
days, and extension educational conferences to assist producers dealing with irrigation restrictions.
Publications
- Yonts, C.D. 2007. Impact of mid-season water stress on sugarbeet growth. Proceedings from the 34th biennial meeting, ASSBT, Salt Lake City, UT. pp 101-106.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Drought Management for Sugarbeet: This was the third year of studying the effect of water stress on sugarbeet starting after full cover had been attained. For the experiment, irrigation was uniformly applied to sugarbeet through mid-season, approximately July 15. To obtain different drought conditions, irrigation resumed after one, two, three, four or five week intervals. Irrigation amount was based on the previous weeks evapotranspiration. In 2006, plant height was greater for the one, two and three week interval treatments compared to the four and five week interval treatments. On the other hand, the four and five week interval treatments produced more pounds of sugar per acre than did the two week interval treatment but were similar to the one and three week interval treatments. When combined over 2005 and 2006, there was no statistical difference among the irrigation treatments tested. Mid Season Water Stress on Dry Bean: An experiment to evaluate soil water
stress during mid season growth of dry bean was initiated in 2005. Two separate experiments are being conducted by using furrow and sprinkler irrigation systems. Six irrigation treatments are used in each experiment. Water treatments are a combination of irrigation or no irrigation during 3-nine day periods starting in mid July and ending in mid August. Approximately 2.4 inches of water was applied during each nine day time period. For the furrow trial, irrigated plots received all water at the beginning of the treatment. For the sprinkler experiment, 0.8 inches of irrigation water was applied on the third, sixth and ninth day of the treatment. In 2006 no rainfall occurred during the treatment period and full irrigation during all three treatment periods resulted in the greatest yield for both the furrow and sprinkler trials. In the furrow experiment, irrigation differences were well defined. The least yield occurred when no irrigation water was applied during the second nine day time
period. For the sprinkler experiment, the less than full irrigation treatments were all similar. When combined over 2005 and 2006, the sprinkler experiment again tended to have mixed results and the irrigation treatments produced similar bean yield. However in the furrow experiment, full irrigation produced the greatest yield while no irrigation during the second and third nine day time period produced the least yield. Subsurface Drip Irrigation: This trial was conducted for the third year with dry bean and corn grown in rotation. Irrigation treatments include 1.25 ET, 1.0 ET, 0.75ET and 0.5 ET. Irrigation treatments are assigned for the duration of the experiment. In the 2006 corn trial 1.25ET and 1.0ET produced the greatest yields and 0.5ET produced the least yield. The 0.5 ET treatment produced 80% of the 1.25 and 1.0ET yield. In the 2006 bean trial, there was no statistical difference among the four irrigation treatments, however the yield results tended to follow the irrigation
treatments in that 1.25 ET was greatest and 0.5ET was the least. Yield results in 2004 and 2005 produced no statistical differences among the irrigation treatments tested for either the corn or dry bean trials.
Impacts
As irrigation water restrictions become more common, producers will be required to limit irrigation amounts. Experiments on induced water stress during the growing season provide producers faced with limitations or water shortages the knowledge needed to understand the potential yield reductions that result from limited water and to help decide whether alternative crops should be planted in place of traditional crops. In addition, experiments associated with finding ways to maintain crop production with less irrigation water input and more efficient use of rainfall, provides farmers with crop production options necessary as acres under irrigation are reduced and dryland acres increase.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
Subsurface Drip Irrigation: This trial was conducted for the second year with dry bean and corn grown in rotation. Irrigation treatment levels include 1.25 ET, 1.0 ET, 0.75 ET and 0.5 ET. Because of limited water supplies and availability again in 2005, irrigation did not begin until 7/20/05 for both crops. Beginning in 2004, individual plots were assigned a treatment for the duration of the experiment. Treatments within a plot remain the same from year to year to account for soil water deficits that may carryover. The last irrigation for both dry bean and corn was on 9/7/05, when the water supply was exhausted. During this second year, yield was found to be similar among the four irrigation treatments. Results found for the dry bean experiment, indicated yields were statistically similar for the four irrigation treatments as well. Yield variation was significant due to other climatic factors. Drought management for sugarbeet: This was the second year of studying the
effect of water stress starting after full cover had been attained. For the experiment, irrigation was uniformly applied to sugarbeet through 7/15/05. To obtain different drought conditions, irrigation resumed after one, two, three, four or five week intervals. Irrigation amount was based on the previous weeks consumptive use. Data analysis is incomplete at this time. Mid season dry bean water stress: An experiment to evaluate soil water stress during mid season growth of dry bean was initiated in 2005. The experiment is being conducted using both furrow and sprinkler irrigation systems. Irrigation treatments include six levels of water stress from mid July to mid August. Preliminary results were mixed this first year indicating little difference among the six irrigation treatments tested. For the furrow experiment, the full irrigation treatment exhibited the greatest yield while with the sprinkler experiment, the full irrigation treatment resulted in the least yield. Late season dry
bean water stress: A four year study on the impact of late season water stress was completed. Irrigation treatments included four levels of water stress beginning in early August. Results indicate that as water stress increases, yields decrease in a near uniform trend.
Impacts
As irrigation water restrictions become more common, producers will be required to limit irrigation amounts. Experiments on induced water stress early or late in the growing season provide producers faced with limitations or water shortages the knowledge needed to understand the potential yield reductions that can result and decide whether alternative crops should be planted in place of traditional crops.
Publications
- Yonts, C.D. and R.G. Wilson. 2005. Drought Tolerance of Sugarbeet. Journal of Sugarbeet Research. 42(1-2):47. Palm Springs, CA.
- Yonts, C.D. 2004. Irrigation Management. In: Dry Bean Production and Pest Management, 2nd edition. NU Extension Regional Publication 562A, pp41-49.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
Subsurface Drip Irrigation: Established replicated trials for dry bean and corn under subsurface drip irrigation system that was installed the previous summer. Irrigation treatment levels included 1.25 ET, 1.0 ET, 0.75 ET and 0.5 ET. Because of limited water supplies and availability constraints, irrigation did not begin until July 10. All treatments were irrigated until July 30 to encourage plant establishment. Irrigation treatments were started on July 30. Water supplies were exhausted August 25 and irrigation was stopped. For the corn trial, the 1.25 ET treatment gave the lowest yield compared to the 1.0 and 0.75 ET treatments. For the bean trial, no significant differences could be detected among the four irrigation treatments. Variability in plants were high due to the extremely dry soil conditions after planting and before final emergence. Subsurface drip tape was installed at a depth of 12 inches on 44 inch centers. Crops were planted in 22 inch rows. It was
observed through early plant response that without precise planting, those rows closest to the drip lines received more water earlier in the growing season. Variation in yield between the two rows sampled indicated yield differences of over 10% was caused by the row location factor. Trial to be repeated in 2005. Drought Management for Sugarbeet: Established replicated trial for sugarbeet under sprinkler irrigation using two varieties. Adverse weather conditions combined with field history caused poor germination and final stand uniformity. Irrigation treatments were full irrigation, no irrigation after 7/20 for two weeks, no irrigation after 7/20 for three weeks and no irrigation after 7/20 for four weeks. Preliminary results indicate sugarbeet was capable of maintaining growth throughout the four week time period. Trial will be repeated in 2005.
Impacts
As irrigation water restrictions become more common, producers will be required to limit irrigation amounts. Experiments on induced water stress early or late in the growing season provide producers faced with water shortages the knowledge needed to understand the potential yield reductions that can result and decide whether alternative crops should be planted in place of traditional crops.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
A project entitled, Late Season Irrigation Management for Optimum Sugarbeet Production, was completed. The results of this study indicate that on a medium textured soil, eliminating irrigation after mid-August caused a 7% reduction in yield when compared to full irrigation. These results are based on both sprinkler and furrow irrigation systems that were at or near field capacity when irrigation was stopped. Having a full soil profile means that without rainfall crop water use can be met for nearly a two week period using stored soil water. With cooler temperatures and a fully developed root system in the fall, sugarbeet could use water beyond the recommended 50% depletion level and obtain water from greater depths in the soil profile. Add to this the probability of rainfall, and what appears to be water stress may actually result in a more efficient use of stored water and late season rainfall. A study to evaluate different irrigation methods and the use of
polyacrylamide in the seed furrow on sugarbeet emergence is currently being conducted. Preliminary results indicate little difference in germination between irrigation methods and no difference when polyacrylamide is used at planting time. In a second study, dry beans are exposed to four different levels of water stress beginning in early to mid-August. Both furrow and sprinkler irrigation systems are being examined in separate experiments. Yields have consistently shown a reduction as water stress increases for both irrigation methods. However, maximum yield reductions have been on the order of 10% or less. To date, water stress late in the season also has a limited impact on rate of maturity. Crop water use during the time period being studied is approximately 4.5 inches. A subsurface drip irrigation system installation was just completed in 2003. The system covers approximately 8 acres and has 33 individual plots. Each plot is twelve 22-inch rows wide with drip tape installed at a
12 inch depth between every other row. Current plans include frequency experiments.
Impacts
As irrigation water restrictions become more common, producers will be required to limit irrigation amounts. Experiments on induced water stress early or late in the growing season provide producers faced with water shortages the knowledge needed to understand the potential yield reductions that can result and decide whether alternative crops should be planted in place of traditional crops.
Publications
- Yonts, C.D., K.L. Palm, and D.L. Reichert. 2003. Late Season Irrigation Management for Optimum Sugarbeet Production. Journal of Sugarbeet Researrch. 40(1-2):11-28.
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