Progress 07/01/05 to 06/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Task 1: Economists analyzed and reported on the economic life-cycle costs of desalination facilities in Texas using the DESAL ECONOMICS model and of a new municipal surface-water treatment facility using the CITY H20 ECONOMICS model. RGIDECON was used to analyze capital rehabilitation projects for irrigation districts. A total of 26 inflow-outflow measurements were conducted at selected sections of Riverside Canal and Franklin Canal. Task 3: Economic evaluations of Senate Bill 3 have brought attention to unexpected consequences that may be associated with actions of legislators. Two workshops were conducted for regional water stakeholders on GIS database enhancement and model development. Nine issues of the education outreach publication "Drought Watch on the Rio Grande" were produced and distributed to increase public and water-user knowledge and encourage conservation. Responses to a follow-up survey on agricultural water conservation incentives were statistically analyzed to document actual irrigation practices, incentives, water use and implementation of conservation methods. Task 4: Yield, quality, water use and economics were evaluated on mini-pivot sprinkler irrigation systems to irrigate pastures on undulated fields in Hidalgo County. Water use and yield were evaluated for cotton production under subsurface drip irrigation using low-pressure drip irrigation systems compared to furrow irrigation. A study was conducted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas to evaluate yield and quality of subsurface drip-irrigated onions using different scheduling strategies and water stress levels. The second year of a study comparing crop water use under green versus burned sugarcane harvest suggests that the residue that remains on the surface has little impact on sugarcane water requirements and use. Data was collected from farms in the Wintergarden region to evaluate the feasibility of using CroPMan as a decision support system for irrigation management. Task 5: The performance of six Gaillardia species was evaluated in raised beds in a semiarid desert environment. Drought tolerance of four rose rootstocks was evaluated. A survey showed homeowners like attractive, healthy landscapes. Water use and growth were monitored in four economically important introduced shrubs and two Texas native shrubs. Task 6: Researchers evaluated nanofiltration treatment of impaired-quality Rio Grande winter return-flow water to produce drinking water and improve irrigation water quality. Evaluation of biological control for Arundo donax was found to reduce leaf-level transpiration rates. Task 7: Research was conducted on equipment for improving sports turf irrigation. Various studies were conducted to evaluate the response of plants and crops to slightly saline water and reclaimed water. Task 8: Surface water-groundwater interaction was assessed using the RiverWare groundwater storage objects model. Hydrology, salinity and salt management were studied in the middle Pecos River. Task 9: The annual project conference was held in Las Cruces, NM. The project newsletter was also published quarterly. PARTICIPANTS: This is a joint project between Texas AgriLife Research, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Station. Participants include research and Extension personnel from both institutions. Other collaborators include USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Survey, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Water Development Board, BOrder Environmental Conservation Commission, North American Development Bank, Lower Rio Grande Development Council, Irrigation Districts, Commodity Organizations, Regional Water Planning Groups and Selected Consultants. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience are the farmers and citizens of the Rio Grande Basin. Research has been completed on-farm to work with farmers in efficiently irrigating their crops. Extension publications and efforts have worked with homeowners teaching them how to better conserve their water in-home and on their landscapes. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Improved agricultural and urban irrigation efficiency frees up large quantities of water for growing municipal populations of the Rio Grande Basin. Economic models assist irrigation district managers in working with economists to analyze and evaluate capital for the repair and improvement of water-delivery infrastructure. Overall, irrigation district rehabilitation projects saved 61,275 acre-feet of water per year. The coordinated water resources database and geographic information system Web site for the Paso del Norte watershed has been updated, based on a user-need survey. Researchers work with irrigation districts to update the irrigation network and compile historic flow and water quality data. They have also been working with selected farmers to explore water conservation measures on-farm, such as scheduling irrigation using moisture sensor data. Fact sheets and sample database information were also updated and distributed. "Drought Watch on the Rio Grande" educational outreach publication is distributed to 300 subscribers via e-mail, including elected officials and local, state and federal agencies. It has also been widely used and cited in numerous newspaper articles and television reports and is posted on several Web sites in Far West Texas-Southern New Mexico area as well as the El Paso-Las Cruces-Juarez Rio Grande border region. Researchers have conducted studies on the impacts on Lower Rio Grande Valley farmers of water shortages caused by underdelivery of treaty water by Mexico. Growers and research plots demonstrated significantly lower water use in drip- and microjet-irrigated citrus than in flood-irrigated citrus groves. Wintergarden data collected from farms were used to evaluate the feasibility of using CroPMan as a decision support system for irrigation management. Calibration allowed for precise measurements of crop water use in cotton and corn. Once calibration curves were obtained, researchers developed limited irrigation scenarios for growers to use in the region. Measured versus simulated corn grain yields were collected using farmers' field data obtained from Bexar, Medina and Uvalde counties in 2007. Corn yield responses as a function of irrigation plus rainfall and crop evapotranspiration were simulated to provide growers with information on the amount of water necessary to maximize yield in the Rio Grande Basin region; the same was done for cotton. Salinity and drought tolerance studies of landscape plants have provided homeowners with lists of native plants to use in their landscapes that are fit for their climate and are low-water users. Changing home consumer behavior and perceptions about landscape water management appears to be a promising approach to achieving water conservation goals and sustaining population growth and development. Due to nanofiltration treatment studies of impaired-quality water, El Paso Water Utilities plans to incorporate both chlorine and ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection of the nanofiltered water to ensure microbial safety of drinking water. More user-friendly framework was acquired for the Rio Grande Basin Web sites; a test site will be posted for stakeholder feedback.
Publications
- Persyn, R.A., Lesikar, B.J., & Duan, X. (2007). Performance of wastewater subsurface drip emitters at low and normal pressure. Water Environment Research, 79(7), 701-706.
- Boyer, C.N., Rister, M.E., Sturdivant, A.W., Lacewell, R.D., Rogers, C.S., & Harris, B.L. (2008, February). Identifying economies of size in conventional surface water treatment and brackish-groundwater desalination: Case study in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Proceedings of the 2008 Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX.
- Sturdivant, A.W., Rogers, C.S., Rister, M.E., Lacewell, R.D., Norris, J.W., Leal, J., Garza, J.A., & Adams, J. (2007, September). Economic costs of desalination in South Texas: A case study. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, 137, 21-39.
- Brown, C., Sheng, Z., & Bourdon, M. (2007, October). Phase II final project report Paso del Norte Watershed Council coordinated water resources database and GIS project (NMSU TR-341; TWRI Report No. TR-307). Las Cruces: New Mexico State University, Water Resources Research Institute, and College Station: Texas AgriLife Research, Texas Water Resources Institute.
- Ward, F.A., Booker, J.F., & Michelsen, A.M. (2006). Integrated economic, hydrologic and institutional analysis of policy responses to mitigate drought impacts in the Rio Grande Basin. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 132(6): 488-502.
- Ward, F.A. Michelsen, A.M., & DeMouche, L. (2007). Barriers to water conservation in the Rio Grande Basin. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 43(1): 237-253.
- Crosby, K.M., Jifon, J.L., & Leskovar, D.I. (2008). Genetic improvement of early root vigor in melon (Cucumis melo L.) to enhance stand establishment. Acta Horticulturae, 782, 273-278.
- Enciso, J., Colaizzi, P.D., Multer, W.L., & Stichler, C. (2007). Cotton response to phosphorus fertigation using subsurface drip irrigation. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 23(3), 299-304.
- Enciso, J., Jifon, J.L., & Wiedenfeld, B. (2007). Subsurface drip irrigation of onions: Effects of drip tape emitter spacing and installation depth on yield and quality. Agricultural Water Management 92, 126-130.
- Proano, A.S., Agehara, S., Jifon, J.L., Piccinni, G., Yoo, K.S., & Leskovar, D.I. (2007). Impact of low-pressure drip irrigation and N slow-release fertilizer on onion yield and quality. HortScience, 42, 1002.
- Widenfeld, B., & Enciso, J. (2008). Sugarcane responses to irrigation and nitrogen in semiarid South Texas. Agronomy Journal, 100, 665-671.
- Cabrera, R.I., Solis-Perez, A.R., & McCormick, J. (2007, January). The role of calcium and boron in rose development and petal blackening: Observations in commercial rose greenhouses and shoot tissue nutrient status. International Cut Flower Growers Association Bulletin, 18-22.
- Niu, G., & Rodriguez, D.S. (2007, August). Heat and drought tolerance of selected bedding plants. Proceedings of Southern Nursery Association Research Conference (Floriculture; pp. 13-17).
- Sifuentes, L.Y., & Di Giovanni, G.D. (2007). Aged HCT-8 cell monolayers support Cryptosporidium parvum infection. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 73, 7548-7551.
- Crosby, K.M., Jifon, J.L., & Leskovar, D.I. (2007). Agronomy and the nutritional quality of vegetables. In Improving the health promoting properties of fruit and vegetable products (pp. 392-411). Woodhead Publishing.
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Progress 07/01/06 to 06/30/07
Outputs
Task 1: Economists used the Agricultural Economic Benefit model to estimate the benefits of flood control and major drainage infrastructure. Economists are also analyzing expected economic benefits of the El Morillo Drain. Researchers are identifying seepage-loss sections of canals and are characterizing surface water and groundwater interaction. Task 3: Economists compared and contrasted irrigation districts' operational characteristics. Researchers explored decision support and monitoring systems and expanded the Coordinated Water Resources Database and GIS Databases. Researchers helped with information exchange and analysis of desalination economics. Task 4: Researchers found that muskmelon production with deficit irrigation conserves water. Significant water savings are expected from grafted plants. Researchers studied artichoke yield responses to deficit irrigation. Center pivot and low-pressure system irrigation were evaluated for spinach. Low-pressure drip
irrigation and nitrogen slow-release fertilizer were found effective for onion. Soil moisture sensors and data loggers were used to determine irrigation problems. Crop coefficients were determined for the Wintergarden region. Researchers found conservation tillage reduces water use compared to conventional tillage. Task 5: Researchers evaluated the physiological disorder of water quality and fertilization in rose crops. Plant tolerance to high chlorine-based salinity was studied and herbaceous perennials were evaluated for salt tolerance. Graywater reuse system presentations were conducted on irrigating landscape plants. Drought, heat and salinity tolerance for flowering plant species, oleanders and bluebonnets were determined and compared. Task 6: Water samples were analyzed for animal and human viruses and indicator organisms. Giant cane control agents were ranked according to their ability to reduce growth and water use. Sap-flux and water-use estimates were analyzed for saltcedar
trees. Task 7: Researchers developed documents to address irrigating urban landscapes with moderately saline water. These documents provide water managers and irrigation engineers with tentative guidelines for assessing water quality for irrigating urban landscapes. Soil and site suitability assessments of land were conducted in El Paso. Blowdown water effects on soil properties were evaluated. Task 8: Researchers reviewed existing groundwater availability models and identified data gaps for model configuration, such as lack of water-level monitoring data and aquifer hydrological properties. Real-time data, query functions and other data were added to the water resources database. User-friendly framework was acquired for Rio Grande Basin Web sites. Another model was used along the Rio Grande Basin to identify climate-change applications. Task 9: An annual project conference was held to foster communications among Rio Grande federal initiatives, administered by Texas A&M, New Mexico
State University and Texas State University System. The RGBI project Web site is continually updated with project outcomes articles, and the project newsletter is distributed quarterly.
Impacts
Improved agricultural and urban irrigation efficiency will free up large quantities of water for the growing municipal populations of the Rio Grande Basin. Economic models help estimate the cost and benefits associated with irrigation infrastructure and compare and contrast operational characteristics. Identification of areas of seepage loss in canals assists irrigation districts to identify where the losses occur and what needs to be done to save the water that is being lost. On-farm research provides information that will prevent excessive use of irrigation water while maintaining good yields and crop quality. Salinity studies will demonstrate which plants are most tolerant to saline water, reducing the amount of potable water used for landscape irrigation. Data processed for the Web will help further collaboration efforts with other universities and agencies by providing a resource database available to everyone. Research to quantify crop water-use parameters will
foster more precise irrigation and reduce wastes.
Publications
- Cabrera, R.I., Rahman, L., McKenney, C., Hill, S., Niu, G., and Mackay, W. 2006. Evaluating the salinity tolerance of nursery and landscape plants. Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Green Magazine, 14-18.
- Ko, J., Maas, S.J., Mauget, S., Piccinni, G., and Wanjura, D. 2006. Modeling water stressed cotton growth using in-season remote sensing data. Agronomy Journal, 98, 1600-1609.
- Lacewell, R.D., Rister, M.E., Sturdivant, A.W., DuBois, M.M., Rogers, C.S., and Seawright, E.K. 2007. Expected economic benefits of the El Morillo Drain (TWRI Report No. TR-299). College Station: Texas Water Resources Institute.
- Leskovar, D.I., Goreta, S., Piccinni, G., Yoo, K.S., and Agehara, S. 2006. Crop strategies impact on yield and head quality components of globe artichoke in Southwest Texas. HortScience, 41, 986.
- Miyamoto, S. 2006. Diagnosis and management of salinity problems in irrigated pecan production (TR No. 287). El Paso: Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
- Miyamoto, S., and Chacon, A. 2006. Soil salinity of urban turf areas irrigated with saline water. II. Soil factors. Landscape and Urban Planning, 77, 28-38.
- Miyamoto, S., Yuan, F., and Anand, S. 2007. Hydrology, water management and salinity of the middle Pecos River, Texas. El Paso: Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and College Station: Texas Water Resources Institute.
- Miyamoto, S., Yuan, F., and Anand, S. 2007. Water balance, salt loading and salinity control options of Red Bluff Reservoir, Texas (TWRI Report No. TR-298). El Paso: Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and College Station: Texas Water Resources Institute.
- Niu, G. 2006. Salinity tolerance. American Nurseryman, 26-29.
- Piccinni, G., Supercinski, D., Leskovar, D., Harris, B., and Jones, C.A. 2006. Rio Grande Basin Water Conservation Project. Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 96, 324-330.
- Sheng, Z., Michelsen, A.M., Villalobos, J., Srinivasan, R., et al. 2006. Coordinated water resource database and GIS watershed management (Program Results Fact Sheet). El Paso: Texas A&M University System Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
- Tillery, S., Sheng, Z., King, J.P., Creel, B., Brown, C., Michelsen, A., Srinivasan, R., and Granados, A. 2006. The development of coordinated database for water resources and flow model in the Paso del Norte watershed (NMSU Report No. TR-337 and TWRI Report No. TR-297). Las Cruses: New Mexico State University, Water Resources Research Institute, and College Station: Texas Water Resources Institute.
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Progress 07/01/05 to 06/30/06
Outputs
Task 1: Researchers continue to provide tools to determine the fate of water seepage. Water salvaged by lining major canals is expected to be used to supplement municipal and industrial water supplies and in turn reduce withdrawal of fresh groundwater. Lined canals also provide a higher delivery efficiency of limited surface water supplies during drought. A new publication will serve as a guide to least-cost ways to save water. Task 2: Efforts continue into both irrigation system research and training programs. Task 3: Research continues on policies and irrigation district regulations to evaluate water conservation impacts. In addition, research is being directed to evaluation of municipal water use ordinances to develop guides leading to water savings. Task 4: Water conservation strategies continue to be developed for flood, microspray and drip irrigation systems. Researchers continue to adapt crop production models for irrigated agriculture in the Basin. Researchers
have been focusing on spinach, onions, watermelons, artichokes and several varieties of peppers to evaluate and develop deficit-irrigation practices. Drip and microjet methods increase water savings in citrus production. If microjet or drip irrigation practices were implemented for every acre of citrus crops in the region, somewhere between 28,000 and 38,000 acre-feet of water would be saved annually, according to research results. Task 5: Demonstrations continue on ways to conserve water through improved municipal landscape ordinances, designs and irrigation systems. Evaluation of beneficial effects of calcium additions to rose plants and rootstocks subjected to increasing sodium chloride salinity continues. Salt tolerance of trees and shrubs has also been examined. Water-use and crop coefficients for a number of shrubs grown in containers and lysimeters have been determined and compared. Task 6: Soil testing demonstrations continue to help protect water quality and quantity.
Demonstrations to control invasive aquatic weeds continue. Researcher's efforts are aimed at determining how much water saltcedar control can save. Task 7: Researchers are helping conduct trainings for homeowners and doing adaptive research on how to install septic systems and implement self-help programs for wastewater treatment. Also, crop irrigations with salty groundwater and graywater are being compared. Task 8: Natural resources, socioeconomic and health-related conditions in the Pecos Basin counties have been collected and processed for Web hosting to complement work completed for other Rio Grande Basin counties. In addition, agricultural census data for these counties has been collected and will be added to the existing study-area map. Protocols have been developed for sharing data and modeling results. Task 9: An annual project conference was held to foster communications among the three separate federal initiatives administered by Texas A&M, New Mexico State University,
Texas State University System and the University of Texas. The RGBI project Web site is continually updated with project outcome stories, and the project newsletter is distributed quarterly.
Impacts
Improved agricultural and urban irrigation efficiency will free up large quantities of water for the growing municipal populations of the Rio Grande Basin. Evaluation of system renovation projects for irrigation districts will facilitate the funding and implementation of these water-saving improvements. Salinity studies will demonstrate which plants are most tolerant to saline water, reducing the amount of potable water used for landscape irrigation. County level data processed for the Web will help further collaboration efforts with other universities and agencies by providing a resource database available to everyone. Research to quantify crop water-use parameters will foster more precise irrigation and reduce wastes.
Publications
- Aristizabal, L., Sheng, Z., Villalobos, J., & Xiang, G. (2005, August). Understanding the hydrogeological characteristics of El Paso lower valley, through groundwater modeling. New Mexico Water Research Symoposium, E-23.
- Assadian, N.W., Di Giovanni, G., Flores Margez, J.P., & Jaramillo Lopez, E. (2005). Human health risks from contaminants in reclaimed Juarez Valley wastewater. Texas A&M University, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Agricultural Research and Extension Center at El Paso.
- Cabrera, R.I. (2005). Challenges and advances in water and nutrient management in nursery and greenhouse crops. Agricultura Mediterranea, 135, 1-14.
- Jifon, J., Crosby, K., & Leskovar, D.I. (2005). Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence responses of closely related pepper genotypes of high temperature stress. HortScience, 40(4), 1076.
- Leinauer, B., Gibeault, V., Lauriault, L., Autio, R., Cockerham, S., Kirksey, R., & Ries, S. (2005). Assessing establishment rates and winter survival of low maintenance turfgrasses in two climate zones. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, Annexe. 46, 47.
- Leskovar, D.I., Piccinni, G., & Moore, D. (2005). Deficit irrigation and plant population effects on leaf quality and yield of spinach. HortScience, 40(4), 1095.
- Moore, G.W., & Owens, M.K. (2005, August). Will removing Tamarix from the Bosque understory result in water savings for the Rio Grande? Presented to Ecological Society of America, Montreal, Canada.
- Piccinni, G. & Leskovar, D.I. (2005). Development of phonological-state-specific crop coefficients (Kc) to manage deficit irrigating in agricultural production systems. In Proceedings of Interdrought II Conference, Rome.
- Rister, M.E., Lacewell, R.D., & Sturdivant, A.W. (2006, March). Economic and conservation evaluation of capital renovation projects: United Irrigation District of Hidalgo County (United): Rehabilitation of main canal, laterals and diversion pump station, final (TWRI Publication No. TR-288). College Station: Texas Water Resources Institute.
- Sallenave, R., & Cowley, D.E. (2006). Science and effective policy for managing aquatic resources. Reviews in Fisheries Science, 14, 203-210.
- Sheng, Z. (2005). An aquifer storage and recovery system with reclaimed wastewater to preserve native groundwater resources in El Paso, Texas. Journal of Environmental Management, 75(4), 367-377.
- Sheng, Z., Tillery, S., King, J., Creel, B., Brown, C., Michelsen, A., & Srinivasan, R. (2005, September). Conceptual model development for the Rio Grande Flow Phase II. Report prepared for the U.S. Army Crops of Engineers.
- Wiedenfeld, B. (2005, June). Conservation tillage effects in a subtropical environment on crop production, soil properties and water-use. Presented at Southern Branch American Society of Agronomy meeting, San Antonio, Texas.
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