Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences for this research include farmers, consulting engineering hydrologists, and local, state, and federal agencies that are involved in agricultural hydrology and water management. Changes/Problems: The project did not include the research on variable source area runoff determination because outside funding was not secured for this phase of the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? During the life of the project we completed three M.S. students. Each student was able to present their work at national professional meetings. Also, during the life of the project we hired one undergraduate student assistant each year with a total of five students during the duration of the project How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results of the projects have been disseminated to the end-users through journal publications, presentations at 3 national professional society meetings, and at three Extension meetings where farmers, consultants, and water agency personnel were present. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Infiltration and runoff are hydrologic processes that effect the amount of water available to plants, for groundwater recharge, and for stream flow. No-till planting (NT) is a management practice used to reduce soil erosion, increase water infiltration, and reduce soil water evaporation, and can have great impact on infiltration and runoff. An investigation was conducted to determine the impact of NT on infiltration and runoff when compared to tilled conditions. Runoff and precipitation data was gathered from sites at Fillmore County, NE, Phelps County, NE, the USDA-ARS North Appalachian Experimental Watersheds (NAEW) near Coshocton, OH, and the Lennoxville Research Station (LRS) in Quebec, Canada. Each site consists of at least one NT treatment, and one tilled treatment. Average curve numbers (CN) from the NRCS CN method were determined for each site. A relationship between annual series and partial duration series (PDS) was developed, and used with a standard NRCS method to determine average CN. NT CN was an average of 5 points lower than the tilled sites, indicating NT sites had less runoff than the tilled sites. It was also determined that experimental CN's were an average of 6.2 points lower than tilled CN's published in the NRCS National Engineering Handbook. A method was also developed that adjusts reference hydraulic conductivity (Kref) values using land-use coefficient (CL) values based on tillage type. The resultant effective hydraulic conductivity (Ke) value is used in the Green-Ampt equation to model infiltration and runoff depths. Six different methods used to determine Kref were investigated. It was determined that using ROSETTA, WEPP, and Hydrologic Soil Group criteria for Kref with CL values resulted in the most accurate prediction of runoff depths at the Phelps County, Fillmore County, and NAEW sites. Values for CL were 3-4 times higher for NT sites than tilled sites. A comparison was made between using adjusted CN's for tilled and NT conditions, and the CL method with the Green-Ampt equation. The CN method predicted runoff depths more accurately at Phelps County, Fillmore County, and NAEW. Using ROSETTA and HSG to determine Kref with the CL method produced the most accurate runoff predictions at the two watersheds in Lancaster County, NE.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Lagos,L. O., D.L. Martin, S. B. Verma, S. Irmak, A. Irmak, D.E. Eisenhauer, A. Suyker. 2013. Surface energy balance model of transpiration from variable canopy cover and evaporation from residue-covered or bare soil systems: Model evaluation. Irrigation Science, 31(2):135-150.
Society Affiliations:none
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Djaman, K., S. Irmak, W.R. Rathje, D.L. Martin, D.E. Eisenhauer. 2013. Maize evapotranspiration, yield production functions, biomass, grain yield, harvest index, and yield response factors under full and limited irrigation. Transactions of the ASABE. 56(2):273-293.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Ahmed Al-wadaey, Charles S. Wortmann, Thomas G. Franti, Charles A. Shapiro and Dean E. Eisenhauer. 2012. Effectiveness of grass filters in reducing phosphorus and sediment runoff. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution DOI: 10.1007/s11270-012-1322-2.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Irmak, S., M. J. Burgert, H. S. Yang, K. G. Cassman, D. T. Walters, W. R. Rathje, J. O. Payero, P. Grassini, M.S. Kuzila, K. J. Brunkhorst, D. E. Eisenhauer, W. L. Kranz, B. VanDeWalle, J. M. Rees, G. L. Zoubek, C. A. Shapiro, G. J. Teichmeier. 2012. Large-scale on-farm implementation of soil moisture-based irrigation management strategies for increasing maize water productivity. Transactions of the ASABE. 55(3):881-894.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
Deck, J.H. Hydraulic conductivity, infiltration, and runoff from no-till and tilled cropland. M.S. Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
McKinney, M.B. 2012. Dynamics of depression storage during sprinkler irrigation and precipitation events. M.S. Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Volkmer, A.J. 2014. Infiltration and runoff parameters for tilled and no-till row crops.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Prediction of overland runoff is dependent on good estimates of depression storage on the soil surface and how these depressions fill during rainfall or irrigation. Depression storage plays a key role in retaining excess precipitation. When modeling irrigation systems and surface hydrology, depression storage is often treated as static storage, meaning that the maximum storage volume must be filled before overland runoff occurs. However, several researchers have documented that runoff can begin before all depressions fill. We conducted an experiment where simulated rainfall was applied to impermeable molds of the soil surface that were collected in the field. Plaster of Paris molds of 12 soil surfaces were collected from plots that are part of a tillage study which includes plow, disk, and no-till treatments. The molded surfaces were subjected to a 100 mm/hr simulated rain on a bed with adjustable slopes. Dynamic filling of surface depressions was analyzed by measuring depression storage at points before maximum depression storage was achieved. An empirical relationship relating depression storage to precipitation excess was developed, and suggests that the dynamic nature of depression storage may be predicted if the maximum depression storage and excess precipitation hyetograph are known. The effect of crop residue on Ds was investigated by correlating percent partially imbedded corn residue cover to random roughness. Random roughness values predicted by various levels of percent cover were used to predict the Ds created by partially imbedded corn residue using the Mwendera and Feyen (1992) equation. Percent residue cover was shown to increase Ds far less than predicted by NRCS (2005). The results of this study were presented at the ASABE Annual International Meeting in Dallas, Texas. PARTICIPANTS: Dean Eisenhauer was the lead P.I. and contributed approximately 0.4 FTE of his time towards the project. Collaborators include Drs. Suat Irmak, Derrel Martin, William Kranz, and John Gilley. They reviewed the thesis research results of Michael McKinney. Michael McKinney earned his M.S. degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His M.S. thesis was based on this project. The Nebraska Environmental Trust provided partial financial support for the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The outcomes of this research could have significant impact in hydrology and irrigation. For example, the design of sprinkler packages for center pivot irrigation systems is very sensitive to the available depression storage. As noted in "outputs",the impact of residue cover on depression storage is probably not as significant as is currently being predicted by NRCS in their design procedure. Our results could help improve the design process thus leading to further improvement in irrigation application efficiency.
Publications
- McKinney, M.B., D.E. Eisenhauer, S. Irmak, J.E. Gilley, W.L. Kranz, and D.L. Martin. 2012. Dynamics of depression storage during sprinkler irrigation and precipitation events. Presented at the ASABE Annual International Meeting, Dallas, TX, July 29-August 1.
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Conservation terraces have been installed on nearly 0.8 million ha of land in the upper portions of the Republican River Basin in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado. Many of the terraces in this semi-arid region have level channels with closed ends and either broadbase or flat channel cross sections. These terraces can have significant impacts on field-scale overland runoff and on basin-scale hydrology because of their water storage capabilities. Understanding the hydrologic impacts of these terraces is important for management of stream flow in basin. The objective of this project was to quantify the storage capabilities of the existing terraces in the basin. A field survey was conducted on 178 fields using a survey-grade GPS system mounted on a utility vehicle. Field data included mapping the alignment and berm elevations of all terraces in field and a detailed topographic survey of the cross-sections and channels of two representative terraces within each field. A frequency analysis of water storage capacities of the terrace channels was conducted. The results indicated that on average the level closed end broadbase terraces and flat channel terraces can store 12 and 25 mm of overland runoff, respectively. The hydrologic impact of this storage was quantified through modeling. Depressional storage plays a key role in retaining excess precipitation. When modeling irrigation systems and surface hydrology depressional storage is often treated as static storage meaning that the maximum storage volume must be filled before overland runoff occurs. However, several researchers have documented that runoff can begin before all depressions fill. The objectives of this study were to (1) analyze the process of dynamic filling of surface depressions and (2) determine the effect of partially imbedded crop residue and land slope on depressional storage. Plaster of Paris molds of 18 soil surfaces were collected from plots that are part of a tillage study which includes plow, disk, and no till treatments. The molded surfaces were subjected to a 100 mm/h simulated rain on a bed with adjustable slopes. The results show that the runoff hydrographs from the simulations can be dissected to determine how depressional and detention storage varied with time during rainfall. The exponential rise to maximum function presented by Hahn et al. describes the relationship between depressional storage and cumulative excess precipitation quite well suggesting that the dynamic nature of depressional storage can be predicted if the maximum depressional storage and the excess precipitation hyetograph are known. PARTICIPANTS: Master of Science students that worked on the project this year included Michael McKinney, Jessica Deck, and Brent Hall. Jessica Deck and Brent Hall completed their M.S. degrees in December, 2010. Sagor Biswas is a Ph.D. student working on the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Ultimately, the users of land and water resources in south central and southwest Nebraska will be impacted by this research. These resource users will be affected either directly or indirectly through Extension, Natural Resources Districts, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, or the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Three papers were presented at the National Irrigation Symposium in Phoenix in December, 2010. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
About 5 percent of the precipitation in Nebraska runs directly off the surface of the land. This is an important component of stream flow in the state and prediction of the effect of land use on runoff is critical for on-farm water management as well as management of stream flow. Our results will help water managers make better predictions runoff in the future.
Publications
- Eisenhauer, D.E., J H Deck, S Irmak. 2010. Deep Percolation under Center Pivots with No-till Paper number IRR10-9257, 5th National Decennial Irrigation Conference Proceedings, 5-8 December 2010, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona USA.
- Deck, J H , D E Eisenhauer, S Irmak, P Jasa, D L Martin. 2010. Green and Ampt Infiltration Parameters Under No-till Center Pivots. Paper number IRR10-9245, 5th National Decennial Irrigation Conference Proceedings, 5-8 December 2010, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona USA.
- Deck, J H , D E Eisenhauer, S Irmak. 2010. Infiltration and Runoff under Center Pivots with No-till Planting. Paper number IRR10-9215, 5th National Decennial Irrigation Conference Proceedings, 5-8 December 2010, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona USA.
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A project is being conducted on irrigated land to determine the impact of no-till practices on infiltration and runoff for irrigated row crops. The primary goal is to quantify the effect of no-till on infiltration, percolation, and runoff of irrigation and rainfall under center-pivot irrigation. The fate of the water that reaches the land surface from precipitation and irrigation is of utmost importance for efficient water management. One emphasis during this past year has been to compare pedo-transfer function models that can be used to predict the hydraulic conductivity parameter in the Green-Ampt infiltration equation. Sprinkler nozzle package selection for center pivots is dependent on this infiltration parameter. Micro-runoff plots (0.76 m by 1.83 m) were used to quantify runoff from rainfall and irrigation events. Three micro-runoff plots were installed in each of four center-pivot irrigated row crop fields on farmer-cooperator land. The center-pivot fields were located in two counties in south central Nebraska, Fillmore and Phelps Counties. In each county, research was conducted at two center pivot fields, one that has been farmed no-till for approximately 10 years and one that uses pre-plant tillage for seedbed preparation. In Fillmore County, the land slope averages about 1 percent and the soils are classified as Crete silty clay loam. In Phelps County the soils are Holdrege silt loam and land slope averages about 0.4 percent. In Fillmore County there were 13 runoff events recorded from about 40 cm of rainfall total. Runoff totaled about 7 cm and 9 cm for no-till and tilled, respectively. The trends were similar but more dramatic in Phelps County where there was a total 5.5 cm and 14.5 cm of runoff from no-till and tilled fields, respectively, from 30 runoff events which had a total rainfall amount of 60 cm. These results are consistent with surface hydraulic conductivity measurements where no-till had higher conductivities than tilled. Essentially no runoff occurred during irrigation water application on these fields. Four pedo-transfer models were used in runoff modeling, Rosetta, WEPP, Soil Water Characteristics, and Rawls Crust Factor. Results show that the WEPP model gave us the best overall result. PARTICIPANTS: Collaborators, Cooperating Institutions, Farmer Cooperators, and Student Training: Farmer cooperators include Mark Wells, Holdrege, NE; Steve Frissel, Holdrege, NE; Kim Becker, Sutton, NE; and Rick Hughes, Geneva, NE. Two M.S. students are involved in our research, Jessica Deck and Brent Hall. In addition, undergraduate research assistants included Michael McKinney (working on a UCARE undergraduate research project), and John Allen. TARGET AUDIENCES: Ultimately, the users of land and water resources in south central and southwest Nebraska will be impacted by this research. These resource users will be affected either directly or indirectly through Extension, Natural Resources Districts, Natural Resource and Conservation Service, or the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. Results of the project were presented at an Extension sponsored no-till conference in Holdrege and the Central Plains Irrigation Conference in Kearney. Three papers will be presented at the National Irrigation Symposium in Phoenix in December. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Evapotranspiration from vegetated surfaces accounts for over 90 percent of the consumption of precipitation in Nebraska. No-till has the potential of reducing this amount. If it does, our research at the center-pivot irrigated sites will help quantify the fate of the "saved" water. Application of the infiltration modeling approach that we tested has potential to fine-tune our design approaches for center-pivot nozzle packages. If new designs would allow for a 100 kPa reduction in pressure, about 20 percent reduction in energy requirements for irrigation could be saved.
Publications
- Yoder, R.E. and D.E. Eisenhauer. 2010. Irrigation system efficiency. In: D.R. Heldman and C.I Moraru, ed. Encyclopedia of Agricultural, Food, and Biological Engineering. Taylor and Francis.
- Alwadaey, A.M., C.S. Wortmann, T.G. Franti, C.A. Shapiro; and D.E. Eisenhauer. 2010. Manure application setback effect on phosphorus and sediment in runoff. J. Soil Sci. Environ. Manage.1:95-98.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The impact of conservation terraces on stream flow is an important water management issue in the Republican River Basin. The objective of this project was to model the hydrologic impact of these terrace systems on a field scale. The Root Zone Water Quality Model was used to model the surface and root zone hydrology both in the terrace channels and the contributing areas of these terrace systems. The model was calibrated using two years of data collected on five dryland row-crop sites, three in southwest, Nebraska and two in northwest, Kansas. Thirty year simulations were run at two of these sites, Norton and Colby, Kansas. The modeling at these two sites shows more water stored beneath the terrace channels than the contributing slopes. There was also an increase in evapotranspiration and deep percolation. Another component of this project was to quantify infiltration and runoff parameters for the eco-fallow crop rotation system. Infiltration and runoff predictions are dependent on reliable hydraulic conductivities and runoff curve numbers. This study was performed to determine the temporal variability of hydraulic conductivity and runoff curve numbers between phases of an eco-fallow rotation. A single ring infiltrometer was used to measure parameters used to calculate hydraulic conductivity with the inverse Green-Ampt equation at five locations in southwest Nebraska and northwest Kansas. An adjustment was made to the hydraulic conductivity values to account for cumulative rain drop impact variations between the infiltration tests. Rainfall and runoff data was also collected and used for determining curve numbers for each phase of the rotation. The ability of the WEPP model to predict variable hydraulic conductivity was also utilized. A relationship was developed to convert hydraulic conductivity to curve number. A project is being conducted on irrigated land to determine the impact of no-till practices on infiltration and runoff for center-pivot irrigated row crops. We completed the following tasks on the project in 2009: (1) Installed 12 micro-runoff plots at the four center-pivot sites, (2) monitored runoff from over 30 rainfall and irrigation events at the four sites, (3) conducted over 200 infiltration tests at the four center-pivot sites and at the Rogers Memorial Farm, (4) cored to a depth of 7.5 m in the vadose zone at three locations in each center-pivot site, and (5) began laboratory analysis of soil data and analysis of runoff and infiltration data. The results of both projects discussed here will be presented to the cooperating producers and to stakeholders in the effected watersheds through producer meetings sponsored by Cooperative Extension. PARTICIPANTS: The conservation terrace study in the Republican River Basin is a collaborative effort with faculty from Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University. Cooperating faculty are James Koelliker and Philip Barnes.Farmer cooperators on the Conservation Terrace Study and the Center-Pivot irrigated no-till studies include: Brian Lubeck, Stamford, NE; Ron Hoyt, Culbertson, NE; John Scharf, Curtis, NE; Tim Schulz, Norton, KS; Dan Foster and Freddie Lamm, KSU Northwest Experiment Station, Colby, Kansas; Mark Wells, Holdrege, NE; Steve Frissel, Holdrege, NE; Kim Becker, Sutton, NE; and Rick Hughes, Geneva, NE. Three M.S. students are involved in our research, Jessica Deck, Brian Twombly, and Tyler Smith. In addition, undergraduate research assistants include Patrick Trout, Danielle Moore, Michael McKinney, Kate Johnson (working on undergraduate honors thesis), and Andrew Volkmer. TARGET AUDIENCES: Ultimately, the users of land and water resources in south central and southwest Nebraska will be impacted by this research. These resource users will be affected either directly or indirectly through Extension, Natural Resources Districts, the Natural Resource and Conservation Service, or the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources. The research results have been presented through reports to cooperators, tours at project sites, two seminars, one Extension Educator webinar, and one Extension water conference. Project summary meetings are planned for cooperating farmer cooperators in January, 2010. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The conservation bench terrace near Colby, KS increased deep percolation by 2.3 cm per year over the entire field. The broadbase terrace near Norton, KS increased deep percolation by 2.0 cm per year over the entire field. At Colby 79.4% of the runon water retained by the CBT deep percolated and 19.0% was used for ET. At Norton 45.5% of the runon water retained by the broadbase terrace deep percolated and 42.4% was used for ET. The fallow after wheat phase had a hydraulic conductivity of 3.54 cm/hr. The hydraulic conductivities for the row crop and fallow after row crop phases of the rotation were 1.13 cm/hr and 1.41 cm/hr respectively. The curve numbers determined for each phase of the rotation were 85 for the row crop phase, 83 for the fallow after row crop phase, 91 for the wheat phase, and 84 for the fallow after wheat phase. The WEPP model adequately predicted the variability of hydraulic conductivity seen in field measurements. The fallow after wheat phase was found to have a significantly higher hydraulic conductivity than the row crop and fallow after row crop phases. The wheat phase of the rotation was found to have a significantly higher curve number than the other phases. This project will have significant impact on water management decisions in the Republican Basin in the future. Our work indicates that terracing impacts overland runoff by about 2 cm per year. However 1 cm of this water will return to the river as baseflow. The other 1 cm will be consumed through evapotranspiration. Evapotranspiration from vegetated surfaces accounts for over 90 percent of the consumption of precipitation in Nebraska. No-till has the potential of reducing this amount. If it does, our research at the center-pivot irrigated sites will help quantify the fate of the "saved" water.
Publications
- Twombly, B. J. 2008. Field Scale Hydrology of Conservation Terraces in the Republican River Basin. Unpublished M.S. thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
- Smith, T. G. 2009.Temporal Variability of Hydraulic Conductivity and Runoff Curve Numbers for Eco-Fallow Cropping Systems. Unpublished M.S. thesis. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
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Progress 07/01/08 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Field research sites were established at two center-pivot fields in 2008, one with continuous no-till and one with disk tillage. Ring infiltration tests were conducted to determine near-surface soil hydraulic condcutivity at 24 locations in each field. Also, three micro-runoff plots were installed in each field. We also continued with our work with the faculty at K-State on quantifying the impact of conservation terraces on stream flow and recharge in the Republican River Basin. We continued to collect hydrologic data at the five field sites, two in northwest Kansas and three in southwest Nebraska. In addition to the routine data collection, we completed our third year of infiltration measurements at each site. PARTICIPANTS: Two graduate students, Brian Twombly and Tyler Smith, and one undergraduate student, Matt Gibney, worked on this project. The two graduate students will complete their theses within the next four months. We have had excellent cooperation with six farmer cooperators at the field sites. They are Rick Hughes, Kim Becker, Brian Lubeck, Ron Hoyt, John Scharf, Tim Schulz, and Dan Foster. The two projects are finacially supported by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Collaborating faculty include Suat Irmak and Derrel Martin at UNL and Jame Koelliker and Phil Barnes at Kansas State. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include the water management agencies and farmers in southern Nebraska and northern Kansas. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The results of our conservation terrace project has large implications to the development of water policy in the Republican River Basin. There is a common perception that terraces are stopping the majority of the water from entering the river. Our research suggests that over 50% of the water retained by the terraces eventually reaches the river via subsurface flow, i.e., via ground water. This pathway was not understood or appreciated prior to our research.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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