WERA_OLD202: Climatic Data Applications in Irrigation Scheduling and Water Conservation

(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)

Status: Inactive/Terminating

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[10/04/2004] [08/30/2002] [07/21/2003] [10/13/2004] [10/21/2005]

Date of Annual Report: 10/04/2004

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 11/03/2001 - 11/03/2001
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2001 - 12/01/2002

Participants

Joe Henggeler, University of Missouri
Neal Israelsen, Campbell Scientific
Bart Nef, Campbell Scientific
Rick Allen, University of Idaho
Tom Spofford, USDA-NRCS
Allen Powers, US Bureau of Reclamation (sitting in for Peter Palmer)
Ed Martin, University of Arizona
Dale Heermann, USDA/ARS
Terry Howell, USDA/ARS
Tod Trooien, South Dakota State University
Steve Evett, USDA/ARS
Tim Jacobson, Center for Irrigation Technology

Brief Summary of Minutes

Due to personal circumstances, Ted Sammis (Chair), was unable to organize the meeting that was originally scheduled around spring 2001. Ted asked Joe Henggeler to fill in and get this meeting rescheduled in San Antonio.

The meeting was opened at 7:00 PM on Saturday, Novebmer 3, 2001. Materials passed out were today's agenda, Appendix H, minutes from the last meeting, committee member list, original WCC petition drafted after 1st meeting, reports (MO, US Bureau).
Ed Martin reported on Objective 1 (dissemination methods).
Tom Spofford reported on Objective 2 (identifying existing methods). Ted Sammis had been putting more URLs on his website. High Plains used a FAX method that was reported as working well. Discussions to clarify objectives took place. Two or three versions of the objectives existed (the original petition document, the submitted petition document and the agenda notes). Objective 1 was meant to deal with the medium or general methodology used to evaluate various methods in terms of rate of adoption (e.g., FAXing information, websites, computer programs internal to a user's computer, charts, radio PSAs, etc.). Objective 2 was to locate specific methods/tools being currently employed (e.g. the USDA/ARS and TAEX's High Plains FAX service, the AZSCHED program, US Bureau program, WATERRIGHT (with SIMIS), etc.) There were discussions to combine the two objectives.

Further discussions on the objectives were tabled and will be discussed at the next meeting to get a concensus.

The group discussed Objective 3. Tom Spofford reported that he, Terry Howell and Rick Allen had been in touch with the Irrigation Association in regard to the standard ET method. Neil Israelsen said that Campbell Scientific had FAO-59 coding that could be used to directly calculate ETo and be output in the .dat files. Some of the bigger weather station users like Rainbird and Toro had their own methods of calculating ETo. Objective 3 was something the group was going to keep abreast of, and support when adopted. The group was not going to actively evaluate ET methods being used and how they predicted water use of crops.

Ed Martin was nominated as secretary and asked to organize another meeting sometime in March 2002 in the Reno, NV area.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 PM.

Individual state reports from MO and the US Bureau of Reclamation were on hand, but not discussed due to time constraints.

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Objective 1 - Presentation of dissemination methods ~ Develop an interactive Internet site to construct Woodruff irrigation charts ~ Disseminate PC-generated Woodruff charts to growers ~ The USBR is working with CSU Fresno Center for Irrigation Technology on "Wateright: An Educational and Irrigation Scheduling Resource for Water Managers" (http://www.wateright.org). This website (under development) allows the user to input specific information about their crops and irrigation systems while tying into AgriMet or CIMIS for crop ET information. Objective 2 - Review of medium or general methodology and identification of currently used methods and tools ~ Conduct research on cotton and soybean using 8 scheduling methods (computer program [Arkansas Scheduler], Woodruff charts, infra-red temperature, gypsum blocks,tensiometers, tub evaporation, visual symptoms and graphical shape of soil moisture data. A dryland check was also included. ~ Conducted research on corn using Arkansas Scheduler, Woodruff charts and "traditional" method with a dryland check. ~ Survey irrigators regarding irrigation scheduling data: 18% of respondents are using scheduling methods and 14-bushel per acre yield increase for corn irrigators using Woodruff method over those irrigators that did not. ~ Conduct research on watering post-flowering soybeans with ideal amount, drought amount, or excessive amount of irrigation. Objective 3 - Contacts with Irrigation Association on Standard ET methods - FAO-59 coding used to directly calculate ET - Review of ET calculations by weather stations Objective 4 - Conducted research on corn (3 Relative Maturities) with 3 planting dates, soybean (row-planted and drilled)with 3 planting dates, and cotton (row-planted and drilled) with 3 planting dates to develop crop coefficients for ETo. - AgriMet, with the assistance of USDA ARS, implemented a new crop curve in 2001 for grass hay. AgriMet crop curves are available on the internet at http://mac1.pn.usbr.gov/agrimet/cropcurves/About_Crop_Curves.html.

Publications

None

Impact Statements

The committee reviewed currently used methods for ET calculations and scheduling methods and conducted research on verifications. Effectiveness of alternate medium of dissemination in terms of ease of adoption are also being demonstrated.

Date of Annual Report: 08/30/2002

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/29/2002 - 05/30/2002
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2002 - 12/01/2002

Participants

Alam, Mahbub (malam@ksu.edu) - Kansas State University; Gay, Lloyd (lgay@ag.arizona.edu - University of Arizona; Heneggeler, Joe (HenggelerJ@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri; Howell, Terry (tahowell@ag.gov) - USDA ARS; Jacobs, Jim (aes@uwyo.edu) - University of Wyoming; Martin, Ed (edmartin@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona; Palmer, Peter (ppalmer@pn.usbr.gov) - Bureau of Reclamation; Sammis, Ted (tsammis@nmsu.edu)- New Mexico State University; Spofford, Tom (tspofford@wcc.nrcs.usda.gov) - USDA NRCS

Brief Summary of Minutes

Some of members are not on the current list, Jim Jacobs will straighten this out. Joe Henggeler will send Jim the updated list. The announcement e-mail list is still very big; it needs to be parsed down. Joe Henggeler will do this.

The procedure to get on the WCC-202 list is to complete the Appendix E electronically through the National Information Management and Support System (NIMSS) at http://www.lgu.umd.edu/menu.cfm . Check with personnel at your Ag Experiment Station office for procedures and authorization. If you are a researcher, you will be familiar with the lingo. If you‘re not a researcher, Jim Jacobs‘s secretary Kathleen (KathBert@uwyo.edu) will help with the CRIS codes. A copy will automatically be e-mailed to Jim via NIMSS. Congratulations, now you are a member of WCC-202!

Ted Sammis will continue to use the NMSU website for the WCC-202 tools and activities . The state reports are to be sent electronically to Jim Jacobs (copy to Ted Sammis). Jim Jacobs will compile and send on report to NIMSS http://www.lgu.umd.edu. Report should be briefdeal with the accomplishments, publications, and impact. The minutes of the WCC meetings must include a list of participants and official actions to take place. All members, if they have not yet done so, will send Jim Jacobs a list of accomplishments and publications for 2001.

Objective 1 (Coordinate the development of delivery methods for the dissemination of climate based irrigation scheduling). Establish a committee to evaluate what is the best scheduling dissemination method to use.

A questionnaire should be developed and go to farmers and consultants and other users. The questionnaire should be brief, be kept to one page or even a 3X5 card. Jim Jacobs will ask Tom Marek to be on this committee. Committee will include: Ted Sammis, Tom Spofford, Mahbub Alam, and Tom Marek. Can we get info from the USDA Ag Statistics 5-year irrigation survey? Ed Martin will interact with the USDA in this regard. Ed Martin will ask Four-Corners group what sort of tools do they want to view to help learn. Did the Las Cruces meeting on irrigation scheduling post the talks on the web? Ted Sammis will check to see if the talks are on line.

Objective 2 (Coordinate the identification of existing climate-based irrigation scheduling methods or tools). All members of the committee are asked to provide information regarding their states method of calculating ET. Data needed are (1) methodology used and (2) graphical comparison of the results (using actual daily weather from their state) to the standardized Penman-Monteith method. The comparison should include pan data, if available. The pan comparison is in deference to those regions still using pan data.

Objective 3 (Coordinate the acceptance of standardized reference evapotranspiration equation). Ed Martin will head up a fact sheet dealing with ET methods, water use & crop coefficients.

Jim Jacobs will disseminate a task list to all members.

Objective 4 (Coordinate the identification and documentation of crop coefficients used in irrigation scheduling and the method by which coefficients are moved forward in time [accumulated heat units, % crop cover, time, etc.]). Ed Martin will contact California counterparts to help them get involved. Joe Henggeler will investigate use of Doppler rainfall as a method of scheduling. Ted Sammis will talk to WCC-102 about Doppler, send out a spreadsheet for each of us to do KC re-calculations, and contact Dan Smeal.

Peter Palmer was elected secretary of the WCC-202. The 2003 WCC-202 meeting be held in the Kansas City, Missouri area with target dates of May 13 and 14, 2003 (Tuesday and Wednesday).

Ted Sammis & Joe Henggeler, in post-meeting discussion: we need to initiate a 4-H Irrigation Scheduling Project. Joe Henggeler will look into this.

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Objective 1. Development of delivery methods for the dissemination of climate based irrigation scheduling. 7The US Bureau of Reclamation operates a network of 62 automated agricultural weather stations in the Pacific Northwest region, and 21 stations in the Great Plains region in Eastern Montana. 7AgriMet produces crop water use charts that are crop specific and station specific. This requires close coordination with local crop contacts (extension agents, crop consultants, etc.) in order to tie local crop development conditions to crop curves. 7Both regions post current weather data and crop water use information daily on websites: PN Region: http://www.pn.usbr.gov/agrimet GP Region: http://www.gp.usbr.gov/agrimet/agrimet.htm 7New stations: seven new stations were installed in the Pacific Northwest region in 2002 to date; six additional stations will be installed before the end of the summer for a total of 13 new stations. 7Both regions provide numerous responses to data requests via email and telephone. 7Several rural agricultural newspapers publish AgriMet crop water use data during the growing season. 7Crop water use data is further disseminated by local contacts and working relationships with County Extension Agents, NRCS technical specialists, Soil and Water Conservation District specialists, and agricultural consultants. 7The USBR is working with CSU Fresno Center for Irrigation Technology on Wateright: An Educational and Irrigation Scheduling Resource for Water Managers (http://www.wateright.org/). This website (under development) allows the user to input specific information about their crops and irrigation systems while tying into AgriMet or CIMIS for crop ET information. Objective 3. Coordinate the acceptance of a standardized reference evapotranspiration equation. 7AgriMet program is exploring the possibility of contracting to implement new standardized reference ET equation. Objective 4. Identification, documentation and verification of crop coefficients used in irrigation scheduling, including method by which coefficients are moved forward in time (accumulated heat units, % crop cover, time, etc.). 7AgriMet uses a set of crop coefficients originally developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Kimberly, Idaho. The ET procedure uses emergence dates that are provided by local contacts, such as agricultural consultants or extension agents. Other required inputs include full cover and terminate dates. These dates are normally derived from a table of historical relationships with emergence dates. This local contact method is very time consuming and potentially inconsistent. 7AgriMet crop curves are available on the Internet at http://mac1.pn.usbr.gov/agrimet/cropcurves/About_Crop_Curves.html Programs Available for Irrigation Scheduling presented by Joe Henggeler at The Improving Efficiency in Agriculture conference, Mar 20-21, 2002, Las Cruces NM. Missouri‘s Web-based Interactive Irrigation Chart Creator. Henggeler, J.C.

Publications

Bockhold, D.L., Henggeler, J.C., Sudduth, K.A., Thompson, A.L. Comparison of eight irrigation scheduling tools on soybean and cotton. Howell, T.A. Enhancing water use efficiency in irrigated agriculture. Agron. J. 93(2):281-289. Evett, S.R., Howell, T.A., and Schneider, A.D. Water use efficiency regulated by automated drip irrigation control. pp. 49-56. In Proceedings of the International Irrigation Show, Irrigation Assoc., Falls Church, VA. Howell, T.A. Irrigation systems and management to meet future food/fiber needs and to enhance water use efficiency. pp. 10-14. In Proceedings of the INIFAP-ARS Joint Meetings: A Framework for Cooperation, Nov. 6-7, 2001 Weslaco, TX/Rio Bravo, Tam. (Mexico). [on CD-Rom along with PowerPoint presentation], USDA-ARS, Sothern Plains Area, College Station, TX. Tolk, J.A., and Howell, T.A. Measured and predicted evapotranspiration of grain sorghum grown with full and limited irrigation in three High Plains soils. Trans. ASAE 44(6):1553-1558. Schneider, A.D. and Howell, T.A. Scheduling deficit wheat irrigation with data from an evapotranspiration network. Trans. ASAE 44(6)1617-1623. Evett, S.R., Ruthardt, B.B., Kottkamkp, S.S., Tolk, J.A., and Howell, T.A. Profiling soil water probes compared in three soils. Agron. Abstr. [CD-Rom]. Howell, T.A., Copeland, K.S., Evett, S.R., and Tolk, J.A. Radiation balance of irrigated turf grass. Agron. Abstr. [CD-Rom]. Tolk, J.A., Howell, T.A., and Evett, S.R. Measured and modeled plant and soil water evaporation of cotton. Agron. Abstr. [CD-Rom]. Schneider, A.D., Howell, T.A., and Evett, S.R. SDI, LEPA, and spray irrigation of grain sorghum. 2001 Intl. ASAE Meeting. Paper No. 012019 presented at Sacramento, CA, ASAE, St. Joseph, MI. Bean, B.W., New, L. Amosson, S., Patrick, C., Rush, C., Payne, B., Howell, T., and Baumhardt, L. Increasing Northern High Plains profitability through education, demonstration, and applied research. In Proc. 22nd Biennial Grain Sorghum Research and Utilization Conference, Feb 18-20, Nashville, TN. Howell, T.A., Schneider, A.D., and Dusek, D.A. Effects of furrow diking on maize response to limited and full sprinkler irrigation. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66(1):222-227. Ahuja, L.R., Ma, Liwang, and Howell, T.A. (eds.). Agricultural System Models in Field Research and Technology Transfer. Lewis Publishers (CRC Press, Inc.), Boca Raton, FL. 357 p. Evett, S.R., Ruthardt, B.B., Kottkamp, S.T., Howell, T.A. Schneider, A.D., and Tolk, J.A. Accuracy and precision of soil water measurements by neutron, capacitance, and TDR methods. Proc. 17th World Congress of Soil Science. Piccinni, G., Marek, T., Jett, M., Schneider, A., Dusek, D., and Howell, T. Construction of three weighing lysimeters for the determination of crop coefficients for improving water use efficiency and managing irrigation of row and vegetable crops in the Winter Garden. UREC-02-018, Uvalde Research and Extension Center Report, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, TX.

Impact Statements

The ARS research effort in evapotranspiration remains the backbone for the cooperative NP ET network that sends out over 400 faxes nightly. That has permitted a water savings on irrigated crops, reduced energy use, and provided an educational tool for both ag and urban water users. It also permitted the TAES and TCES to match actual ground water withdrawals and aid the future regional water use planning activities in TX that have now been adopted state-wide by the Texas Water Development Board.

Date of Annual Report: 07/21/2003

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 05/20/2003 - 05/21/2003
Period the Report Covers: 05/01/2002 - 04/01/2003

Participants

Alam, Mahbub (malam@ksu.edu) - Kansas State University Extension;
Gannett, Paul (Paul_Gannett@onsetcomp.com) - Onset Computer, Inc.;
Guinan, Pat (guinanp@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri;
Henggeler, Joe (henggelerj@missouri.edu) - University of Missouri;
Howell, Terry (tahowell@cprl.ars.usda.gov) - USDA ARS, Bushland, TX;
Jacobs, Jim (jjj@uwyo.edu) - University of Wyoming, Administrative Advisor;
Kopp, Kelly (kelly.kopp@usu.edu) - Utah State University;
Marek, Tom (t-marek@tamu.edu) - Texas A&M University AES;
Martin, Ed (edmartin@ag.arizona.edu) - University of Arizona;
Nef, Bart (bart-n@campbellsci.com) - Cambell Scientific, Inc., Logan, UT;
Palmer, Peter (ppalmer@pn.usbr.gov) - US Bureau of Reclamation, Boise, ID;
Rogers, Danny (drogers@bae.ksu.edu) - Kansas State University;
Sammis, Ted (tsammis@nmsu.edu) - New Mexico State University;
Scherer, Tom (tscherer@ndsuext.nodak.edu) - North Dakota State University;
Smeal, Daniel (dsmeal@nmsu.edu) - NMSU ASC Farmington, NM;
Snyder, Rick (rlsnyder@ucdavis.edu) - University of California, Davis;
Tacker, Phil (ptacker@uaex.edu) - University of Arkansas;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Because of several new participants and a few new members, the Administrative Advisor provided a summary of the history and purpose of WCC-202. The process for joining a regional committee was also summarized. Representatives from each state, federal agency, and private firm attending the meeting gave reports on their activities. Individuals participating in this committee are heavily involved in gathering weather data and providing crop water use information that is crop and weather station specific.

The main action items from this annual meeting were:

Committee members are to send Ted Sammis the URLs for their irrigation scheduling Web sites as well as information on crop coefficients.

Each state is to compare their method of ET computation against the new standardized ET procedure using Richard Snyders Excel spreadsheet that has the standardized method, which is available on his Web site (http://biomet.ucdavis.edu).

Kelly Kopp will chair a committee to begin development of an Irrigation Scheduling 4-H Educational Curriculum. Committee members include Ted Sammis, Joe Henggeler, Mahbub Alam, and Danny Rogers. Dan Smeal will look into participation by the Farmington, NM County Agent.

Ed Martin was nominated and selected for secretary beginning at the conclusion of this meeting, and to take over as President at the conclusion of the 2004 meeting.

Joe Henggeler (chair), Ed Martin, Mahbub Alam, Tom Marek, and Danny Rogers will serve on a subcommittee to review irrigation scheduling software.

Next meeting of WCC-40 will be in Boise, Idaho in mid-May 2004.

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Obj. 1. Development of delivery methods for the dissemination of climate based irrigation scheduling. California Department of Water Resources upgraded the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Web site to be more user-friendly at http://www.cimis.water.ca.gov The Biometeorology group at UC Davis has created a new Web page with information on how to obtain evapotranspiration information, how to determine crop coefficients, and how to schedule irrigation at http://biomet.ucdavis.edu Maintain interactive Internet site to construct Woodruff irrigation charts at http://agebb.missouri.edu/irrigate/woodruff Developed Internet-based guidelines on when to apply last irrigation on corn and soybeans at http://agebb.missouri.edu/irrigate/tips/index.htm Developed Internet-based database of historic rainfall for Missouri at http://agebb.missouri.edu/weather/history/index.asp Maintain the crop water use website at http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/applications.html. Crop water use maps and numerical tables for the 60 weather stations on the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN) are updated daily during the growing season. In 2001, a cumulative rainfall map was added to the site, in 2002, a rainfall minus crop water use map for corn was added to identify water deficient zones in the state. Access to historical crop water use tables was also added to the NDAWN Web site. Continue to maintain and update the NDSU irrigation Web site at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/irrigation.htm. A working prototype of a PDA based irrigation scheduling program using the Palm handheld has been developed and will be tested during the 2003 season. Several articles were published in the NDSU irrigation newsletter, Water Spouts, concerning irrigation scheduling and water management for dry beans, corn, potatoes and alfalfa. A soil moisture sensor measuring demonstration model was developed for use at irrigation field days and workshops to check if climate based irrigation scheduling methods are accurately predicting crop water status. The US Bureau of Reclamation operates a network of 70 automated agricultural weather stations in the Pacific Northwest region, and 21 stations in the Great Plains region in Eastern Montana. Both regions post current weather data and crop water use information daily at: PN Region: http://www.pn.usbr.gov/agrimet GP Region: http://www.gp.usbr.gov/agrimet/agrimet.htm AgriMet produces crop water use charts that are crop specific and station specific. Close coordination with local crop contacts (extension agents, crop consultants, etc.) to tie local crop development conditions to crop curves. New stations: 11 new stations were installed in the Pacific Northwest region in 2002; One new station was installed in 2003, and two existing stations will be upgraded with the sensors required to model evapotranspiration. A new AgriMet station installed in Bend, Oregon, will be interfaced with a Rainbird/Maxicom irrigation scheduler to automatically schedule irrigations for turfgrass managed by the City of Bend Department of Public Works. Several rural agricultural newspapers publish AgriMet crop water use data during the growing season. Crop water use data is further disseminated by working relationships with County Extension Agents, NRCS technical specialists, Soil and Water Conservation District specialists, and agricultural consultants. The USBR is working with CSU Fresno Center for Irrigation Technology on Wateright: An Educational and Irrigation Scheduling Resource for Water Managers (http://www.wateright.org). This Web site (under development) allows the user to input specific information about their crops and irrigation systems while tying into AgriMet or CIMIS for crop ET information. The Texas North Plains Evapotranspiration Network (NP ET) continued to operate and incorporated the Texas AES/CE stations at Halfway, Lubbock, and Lamesa formerly operated by the Texas South Plains group (cooperating with Dr. Dana Porter). These stations were repaired, calibrated, and reprogrammed to meet NP ET criteria. New stations in the Texas Rolling Plains at Munday and Chillicothote were incorporated into the NP ET (in cooperation with David Bordovsky). A new Web site with hourly and 24-hr data access through a database is nearing completion (http://txhpet.tamu.edu). The network has experienced funding difficulties and held several meetings with clientele and political groups to secure short-term funding until more permanent funding might be obtained. A newsletter was distributed to over 700 subscribers [see http://www.cprl.ars.usda.gov/wmru/pdfs/WF-Vol5-No1.pdf]. Obj. 2. Identification and verification of existing climate based irrigation scheduling methods or tools. Many research projects by University of California faculty, extension specialists and farm advisors and USDA ARS researchers are related to determining crop coefficients and to regulated deficit irrigation, plant based measurements, and water use of tree crops, vine crops, field and row crops, and landscape vegetation. UC and CDWR have jointly developed the SIMETAW program to simulate weather data, calculate the ASCE standardized ETo, apply crop coefficients, estimate ETc and effective rainfall and to determine the ET of applied water (ETaw) for long range water resource planning. UC and CDWR have jointly developed the Consumptive Use Program (CUP) for determining historical average water requirement estimates and to provide crop coefficients to water districts and growers, and the Basic Irrigation Scheduling (BIS) program for calculating site-specific irrigation schedules using both historical average and current ETo data. Conduct 2nd year of research on cotton and soybean using 8 scheduling methods computer program [Arkansas Scheduler], Woodruff charts, infra-red temperature, gypsum blocks, tensiometers, tub evaporation, visual symptoms, and graphical shape of soil moisture data). A dryland check was also included. Conducted 2nd year of research on corn, cotton & soybean using 5 different deficit amounts. The Arkansas Scheduler was used to determine when to apply. Surveyed irrigators regarding irrigation scheduling data. Several types of soil moisture measuring apparatus were installed in research plots. Data were used to verify scheduling methods. Soil moisture blocks connected to a MK Hansen monitor were installed in eight potato grower fields. Results were used to check irrigation water management and how it affects disease development. Crude estimates of water use were obtained. Development of laboratory calibration methods for several types of soil moisture measuring devices. The resistance types of soil moisture sensor are difficult to calibrate over the useful soil moisture range and they are temperature dependent. These difficulties are causing problems in some irrigation research projects. Three weighing lysimeters were completed at Uvalde, TX to validate reference grass ET models for south Texas and to develop crop coefficients for row and vegetable crops. This installation is directed by Dr. Giovanni Piccinni, Asst. Professor [see http://uvalde.tamu.edu/staff/piccinni/index.html]. The AgriPartner program of Texas CE [Drs. Brent Bean and Carl Patrick and Leon New, O.R. (Reggie) Jones (Coordinator), and Don Dusek] has summarized over 93 on-farm irrigation and dryland demonstrations where the NP ET models and data were validated in 2002. The total evaluations follow: corn 17, cotton 15, forage/silage 7, peanut 6, sorghum 17, sunflower 2, wheat 17, soybean 11. These on farm demonstrations tracked applied irrigation water, rainfall, soil water use, yields, and crop phenology on each field (pivot, drip or furrow irrigation). The models performed well, except cotton on the Northern Texas High Plains. The cotton model is being revised for the higher elevation, shorter growing season. Seven part-time AgriPartner employees acquired the data on the various farm fields from 70 cooperating growers (10,725 ac.). Due to Texas budget shortfalls, 2004 AgriPartner employees will likely be reduced to 4 or 5 impacting this effort. Obj. 3. Coordinate the acceptance of a standard reference evapotranspiration equation. The CIMIS now calculates ETo using the hourly Pruitt-Doorenbos (1977) equation (PD) and the ASCE standardized ETo equation (PM) for short canopies as presented by Walter et al. (2000). The PD equation was retained to allow comparison with the PM equation for a few years, but both ETo estimates are made available on the CIMIS Web site. The daily (24-hour) PM equation was used in the SIMETAW, CUP and BIS programs. Compared the University of Missouris method of calculating reference ET to the standardized Penman-Monteith method. Results show that they were close, but tended to stray off under higher wind conditions. Plans are underway to convert MU to the standard Penman-Monteith protocol in late 2003. AgriMet program is exploring the possibility of contracting to implement new standardized reference ET equation. Evapotranspiraion of cotton was measured using weighing lysimeters in 2001-2002 with precision weighing lysimeters under full-, deficit-irrigation, and dryland water regimes as well as a previous season (2000) at Bushland. Cotton water response was measured in 2001 in the smaller lysimeters under an automated rain shelter for three soils Pullman clay loam (Bushland, TX), Amarillo sandy loam (Big Spring, TX), and Ulysses silt loam (Garden City, KS) in the Soil-Plant-Environment-Research (SPER) facility. Fourteen new cores of Vingo sandy loam from Dalhart, TX were collected to replace 12 of the 24 Ulysses cores to provide four soils with the Vingo soil having a low-water holding capacity. The FAO-56 ET model has been continued to be tested for sorghum and cotton at Bushland. Obj. 4. Identification, documentation, and verification of crop coefficients used in irrigation scheduling, including method by which coefficients are moved forward in time (accumulated heat units, % crop cover, time, etc.) In California, a modification the FAO linear method to estimate crop coefficients is being used to determine crop coefficient curves. Rather than using the number of days during the 4 growth periods (initial, rapid, midseason and late-season), the Kc models use a percentage of the season to identify the end points of each growth period. This has eliminated the biggest problem, which is to help growers identify the onset of senescence. It also simplifies calculations since the grower only needs to input the beginning and ending dates of the season. All other dates are calculated using the percentages. Conducted research on corn (3Relative Maturities) with 2 planting dates, soybeans (row-planted & drilled) with 2 planting dates, and cotton (row-planted & drilled) with 2 planting dates to develop crop coefficients for ETo. Crop coefficients for the 10 most irrigated crops in North Dakota were developed many years ago for use with the Jensen-Haise reference ET equation. The crop coefficients are based on days past emergence (DPE). The crop coefficients for potatoes were checked as part of other ongoing research and generally are correct. AgriMet uses a set of crop coefficients originally developed by the USDA ARS in Kimberly, Idaho. The ET procedure uses emergence dates provided by local contacts, such as ag consultants or extension agents. Other required inputs include full cover and terminate dates. These dates are normally derived from a table of historical relationships with emergence dates. This local contact method is very time consuming and potentially inconsistent. AgriMet crop curves are available on the internet at http://mac1.pn.usbr.gov/agrimet/cropcurves/About_Crop_Curves.html.

Publications

Allen, R,G., Walter, I.A., Elliott, R., Itenfiisu, D., Brown, P., Jensen, M.E., Mecham, B., Howell, T.A., Snyder, R., Eching, S., Spofford, T., Hattendorf, M., Martin, D., Cuenca, R.H., and Wright, J.L. 2003. The ASCE standardized reference evapotranspiration equation. pp. 593-602. In A.J. Clemens and S.S. Anderson (eds.), Proc. 2nd Intl. Conf. on Irrig. and Drain., May 12-15, 2003, Phoenix, AZ, Water for a Sustainable World Limited Supplies and Expanding Demand. U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, Denver, CO. Auvermann, B., T. Marek and D. Parker. 2002. Assessing the Water Demand for Sprinkler Dust Control on High Plains Feedyard. 2002 North Plains Research Field Ag Day. TAES-AREC 02-33. 1-2 pp. Colaizzi, Paul D.; Edward M. Barnes; Thomas R. Clarke; Christopher Y. Choi; Peter M. Waller; J. Haberland; and Michael Kostrzewski. 2003. Water Stress Detection under High Frequency Sprinkler Irrigation with Water Deficit Index. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Vol. 129, No. 1, pp. 36-43. Colaizzi, Paul D., Edward M. Barnes; Thomas R. Clarke; Christopher Y. Choi, and Peter M. Waller. 2003. Estimating Soil Moisture under Low Frequency Surface Irrigation Using Crop Water Stress Index. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, Vol.129, No., pp. 27-35. February 1, 2003. Evett, S. R. 2002. Water use in crop production. Vadose Zone J. 1:204-206. Evett, S.R., N. Ibragimov, B. Kamilov, Y. Esanbekov, M. Sarimsakov, J. Shadmanov, R. Mirhashimov, R. Musaev, T. Radjabov, and B. Muhammadiev. 2002. Soil moisture neutron probe calibration and use in five soils of Uzbekistan. 7th World Congress of Soil Science, August 14-21, 2002, Bangkok, Thailand, Transactions, pp. 839-1-839-10. (CD-ROM). Evett, Steven, Jean-Paul Laurent, Peter Cepuder, and Clifford Hignett. 2002. Neutron Scattering, Capacitance, and Tdr Soil Water Content Measurements Compared on Four Continents. 7th World Congress of Soil Science, August 14-21, 2002, Bangkok, Thailand, Transactions, pp. 10211-102110. (CD-ROM). Evett, S.R., J.A. Tolk, and T.A. Howell. 2003. Sensors for Soil Profile Water Content Measurement: Accuracy, Axial Response and Temperature Dependence. Geophysical Research Abstracts, Vol. 5, 09944. Evett, S.R., T.A. Howell, A.D. Schneider, D.F. Wanjura, and D.R. Upchurch. 2002. Automatic drip irrigation control regulates water use efficiency. International Water and Irrigation, Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 32-37. Evett, S.R., B.B. Ruthardt, S.T. Kottkamp, T.A. Howell, A.D. Schneider, and J.A. Tolk. 2002. Accuracy and precision of soil water measurements by neutron, capacitance, and TDR methods. 17th World Congress of Soil Science, August 14-21, 2002, Bangkok, Thailand, Transactions, pp. 318-1-318-8. (CD-ROM). Henggeler, J. 2002. Irrigation Scheduling Works. Integrated Pest and Crop Management. University of MO. 12:6:24. Henggeler, J. 2002. Woodruff Irrigation Chart does good job on corn. MidAmerica Farmer/Grower. Jan 11. Henggeler, J. 2002. Adequate moisture needed during final irrigation. MidAmerica Farmer/Grower. Aug. 2. Henggeler, J. 2002. Programs Available for Irrigation Scheduling. Proc. of The Improving Irrigation Efficiency in Agriculture Conf. Las Cruces, NM, Mar. 20-21. Henggeler, J. 2002. Software Programs Currently Available for Irrigation Scheduling. Proc. of Irrigation Association. New Orleans, Oct. 24-26. Hignett, C., and S.R. Evett. 2002. Thermalization. Section 3.1.3.10 In Jacob H. Dane and G. Clarke Topp (eds.) Methods of Soil Analysis. Part 4 - Physical Methods. pp. 501-521. Howell, T.A. 2002. Irrigation efficiency. pp. 736-741. In R. Lal (ed.), Encyclopedia of Soil Science. Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY. Howell, T.A. 2002. Irrigation system efficiencies. In. Proc. of the Central Plains Irrigation Short Course & Exposition, Colorado State University, Kansas State University, University of Nebraska, and Central Plains Irrigation Assn., Lamar, CO. pp. 80-92. Howell, T.A., S.R. Evett, J.A. Tolk, and A.D. Schneider. 2002. Evapotranspiration of full-, deficit-irrigated and dryland cotton on the northern Texas High Plains. pp. 321-339. In C.M Burt and S.S. Anderson (eds.) Proceedings 2002 USCID/EWRI Conference. Energy, Climate, Environment and Water - Issues and Opportunities for Irrigation and Drainage. U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, Denver, CO. Kamilov, B., N. Ibragimov, S. Evett, and L. Heng. 2002. Use of neutron probe for investigations of winter wheat irrigation scheduling in automorphic and semi-hydromorphic soils of Uzbekistan. Accepted for publication In Proc. International Workshop on Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Wheat Production in Rotation with Cotton in Limited Water Resource Areas, October 13-18, 2002, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Kamilov, Bakhtiyor; Ibragimov, Nazirbay; Esanbekov, Yusupbek; Evett, Steven; and Heng, Lee. 2002. Irrigation Scheduling Study of Drip Irrigated Cotton by use of Soil Moisture Neutron Probe. In Proceedings of the UNCGRI/IAEA National Workshop "Optimization of water and fertilizer use for major crops of cotton rotation," December 24-25, 2002, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Kamilov, Bakhtiyor; Ibragimov, Nazirbay; Esanbekov, Yusupbek; Evett, Steven; and Heng, Lee. 2003. Drip Irrigated Cotton: Irrigation Scheduling Study by Use of Soil Moisture Neutron Probe. International Water and Irrigation. Vol. 23. No. 1. pp. 38-41. Kostrzewski, M., Waller, P., Guertin, P., Haberland, J., Colaizzi, P., Barnes, E.,Thompson, T., Clarke, T., Riley, E., Choi, C. 2003. Ground-based remote sensing of water and nitrogen stress. Transactions of the ASAE. Vol. 46(1): 29-38. Marek, T. 2002. The 2002 Drought? 2002 North Plains Research Field Ag Day. TAES-AREC 02-33. 11-12 pp. Marek, T. 2002. The Texas A&M Statewide EvapoTranspiration Network. 2002 North Plains Research Field Ag Day. TAES-AREC 02-33. p. 13. Thompson, A.L., J.C. Henggeler, D.L Bockhold, and K.A. Sudduth. 2002. Comparison of Eight Irrigation Scheduling Tools on Soybean and Cotton. International Water and Irrigation. 22:3:24-30.

Impact Statements

The CIMIS ETo data are disseminated by CDWR as a free service. Nearly 25% of California growers and landscape professionals use CIMIS to some extent. A report by Palmer et. al. estimated that improvements in efficient water use amounts to about 64 million dollars per year because of increased usage of CIMIS by growers. Large water districts in So. CA are interested in expanding the number of stations in urban areas and making a concerted effort to increase usage of the information.
In CA, several projects to estimate ETo and non-ideal sites, better characterize microclimates, and to determine landscape coefficients are under way. In agriculture, considerable effort is being expended to use regulated deficit irrigation on tree and vine crops to improve product quality and efficient water use. Research on crop coefficients using lysimeters and aerodynamic methods is ongoing.
Missouri irrigators who used irrigation scheduling (either Arkansas Scheduler or WWW Woodruff charts) and the yield advantage over those not scheduling (data is based from 2002l Bootheel Irrigation Survey). Corn 19%, 95,000 ac, 5 bu/ac, $1,100,000; Cotton 9%, 11,250 ac, 118 lbs/ac, $800,000; Soybeans 9%, 45,000 ac., 8 bu/ac, $1,700,000
The crop water use maps and tables are used extensively for irrigation scheduling. In June, July, August the crop water use Web site handled over 48,000 successful requests with the daily average over 450. The busiest day of the week was Monday with over 18,000 total requests. Over 800 distinct computers accessed the site and there are about 1500 irrigators in North Dakota. Interestingly, the crop water use numerical tables are accessed about 10 times more often than the crop water use maps.
Over 1000 copies of the Irrigating by the Checkbook bulletin were distributed.
The ARS research effort in ET remains the backbone for the cooperative NP ET network, which has permitted the savings of over 2.0 in. of water over 4 million ac of irrigated crops, reduced energy use, and provided an educational tool for both ag and urban water users.It permitted the TX AES and Texas CE to match actual ground water withdrawals and aid the future regional water use planning activities in TX that have now been adopted state-wide by the Texas Water Development Board.

Date of Annual Report: 10/13/2004

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/17/2004 - 08/18/2004
Period the Report Covers: 01/01/2004 - 12/01/2004

Participants

Participants Attachment:

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Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Accomplishments: Objective 1 " The AgriPartner program of Texas Cooperative Extension [Drs. Brent Bean and Carl Patrick and Leon New, O.R. (Reggie) Jones (Coordinator), and Don Dusek] has summarized on-farm irrigation and dryland demonstrations where the NP ET models and data were validated in 2003-2004. " Maintain the crop water use by NDSU at the website: http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/applications.html. " Continue to maintain and update the NDSU irrigation website at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/abeng/irrigation.htm. " Maintain support by NDSU for the irrigation scheduling computer program developed several years ago with Minnesota Extension " A PDA based irrigation scheduling program for the Palm operating system has been developed. The program and operating manual was given to 12 cooperators at the beginning of the 2004 irrigation season for testing purposes. " Several articles were published in the NDSU irrigation newsletter, Water Spouts, concerning irrigation scheduling and soil water measurement. " The NRCS EQIP program in North Dakota will cost share pivot sprinkler package conversions from high to low pressure and provide funding for the irrigator to document irrigation water management. This program is very popular. Training sessions on irrigation water management have been held at several locations in the state. " The AgriMet Program Coordinator of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made several presentations in 2004 to encourage the use of climate based irrigation scheduling methods. These presentations include: 1. Four States Irrigation Conference held in Ft. Collins, CO January 13-14, 2004. The conference was sponsored by Reclamation as part of its Water 2025 Initiative. 2. Four 1 hour classroom presentations to the Reclamation sponsored Bureau of Indian Affairs Water Management Workshop in Denver, CO February 10-12, 2004. The topic was Evapotranspiration and Soil, Water, and Plant Relationships. 3. Irrigation Water Management Workshop for producers and irrigation equipment dealers in Baker City, Oregon February 26, 2004. Approximately 20 people attended. 4. Idaho Agricultural Conservation Committee, Twin Falls, Idaho April 28, 2004. Approximately 20 people in attendance. " AZSCHED VI (AriZona irrigation SCHEDuling) program, is now available on-line to download onto personal computers. " AZSCHED VII has been completed and is undergoing Beta testing. The program has been significantly updated. The crop list now includes trees crops such as pecans, lemons and pistachios. " AZSCHED VII has been programmed to allow for users to identify their own weather data set and use that set in the scheduling process. " Alfalfa and turfgrass (both cool season and warm season) ET estimates, based on locally derived, climate-based crop coefficients were published in the Farmington Daily Times newspaper each week (Sunday morning edition). " A desert landscaping coordinating committee was formed in New Mexico on August 11, 2004 to increase the awareness of the public regarding the value of water and ways it can be used more efficiently. " A workshop; Web-Based Resources for Irrigation Scheduling was presented at the Southwest Turfgrass Conference. Ruidoso, NM, September 23-26, 2003. " Dan Smeal coordinated the committees sponsorship of a climate-based irrigation scheduling technical session (both for agriculture and turf) at the upcoming Irrigation Associations 25th Annual Irrigation Show and Technical Conference in Tampa, Fla., Nov. 14-16, 2004. Objective 2: " Evapotranspiration of soybean was measured using weighing lysimeters in 2003 and 2004 under full-irrigation, and dryland evapotranspiration of a cotton-sorghum rotation was measured in 2003 and 2004 at Bushland. " The three weighing lysimeters installed at Uvalde, TX in prior years have been successfully operated in obtaining crop coefficients and on selected vegetable crops to date. " A unique project was initiated this past year to assess evaporation data from compacted, cattle feedyard pen surfaces via the use of small, shallow lysimeters (1m x 1m x 0.2m) at the North Plains Research Field near Etter, TX. " Several types of soil moisture measuring apparatus were installed in research plots. Data were used to verify scheduling methods. " Development of laboratory calibration methods for several types of soil moisture measuring devices is an ongoing project. " An irrigation scheduling program based on turfgrass crop-coefficients developed at Farmington was used successfully to schedule irrigations on existing turfgrass at the same site. Plans are to test the transferability of the model to other sites. Objective 3: " Preliminary comparisons of the newly drafted ASCE ETo equation on a hourly basis to that of daily computations has been found to generally agree to a multiple digit level with regards to daily summations. " Both ETos and crop ET data form the TXHPET network has been used by the Texas A&M-Amarillo group (includes Dr. Howell at Bushland) to develop new state irrigation demand methodology for both northern panhandle region of Texas and for statewide use. " The standardized reference ET equation was compared to the Jensen-Haise and the NDAWN reference ET (Penman Equation). Weather data from the Carrington NDAWN site from the 1992, 1996 and 2002 growing seasons (May 1 September 30) were used for the comparison. Objective 4: " Crop coefficients for cotton were developed and will be published soon (Aug./Sept. issue) in Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering (ASCE) and crop coefficients were presented at an ASAE/CSAE meeting. All NP ET crop development models and Kc data are based on GDD models for wheat, sorghum, corn, cotton, peanut, and soybean for the Texas High Plains. Several of these Kc data are being used by groundwater districts successfully in Kansas. " Crop coefficients for the 10 most irrigated crops in North Dakota were developed many years ago for use with the Jensen-Haise reference ET equation. The crop coefficients are based on days past emergence (DPE). The crop coefficients for potatoes were checked as part of other ongoing research and generally are correct. " AgriMet uses a set of crop coefficients originally developed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Kimberly, Idaho. " AgriMet crop curves are available on the internet at http://www.usbr.gov/agrimet/pn/cropcurves/About_Crop_Curves.html " Work was done this past year using AZSCHED VII on citrus. The citrus curve was over estimating crop water use. " A turfgrass crop coefficient based on a relative, cumulative growing degree-day scale was presented at the Irrigation Associations 24th Annual International Irrigation Show in San Diego last November (2003). " Collaborated with Dr. Mick ONeill (NMSU ASC-Farmington) on developing a crop coefficient for poplar trees in northwestern New Mexico. Verification is proceeding. " A xeriscape demonstration/research plot was established at the ASC to study landscape plant response to irrigations equal to 20%, 40%, and 60% of PM reference ET. One objective is to develop crop coefficients for xeric species.

Publications

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Impact Statements

Lysimeters and crop use water use estimates of Bushland and Uvalde have been used by Texas irrigators.
A crop water use website in North Dakota handled over 50,000 requests in June, July and August.
Over 850 distinct computers accessed the website for irrigation scheduling.
Over 1000 copies of the Irrigating by the Checkbook bulletin were distributed in the state of North Dakota.
30 copies of the computerized irrigation-scheduling program have been sold to irrigators in North Dakota.
Approximately 200 copies of AZSCHED have been distributed to the general public for irrigation scheduling in Arizona.

Date of Annual Report: 10/21/2005

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 08/23/2005 - 08/24/2005
Period the Report Covers: 08/01/2004 - 08/01/2005

Participants

Participants Attachment:

Attachment

Brief Summary of Minutes

Minutes Attachment:

Attachment

Accomplishments

Accomplishments: Objective 1. Coordinate development of delivery methods for the dissemination of climatic based irrigation scheduling. o Determined a list of USGS gauging station that could be potential weather stations for adding additional sensors to these stations for a more complete network. o The remote-sensing group at UC Davis has nearly completed a GIS based ETo map for California. It is planned to publish the map in the near future. o Reclamation, in partnership with the USDA NRCS, installed a new AgriMet station in the Klamath Basin in Oregon (Sprague River near Beatty) to help support Irrigation Water Management activities in the basin. The station was installed in October, 2004. o Numerous enhancements were made to the AgriMet website in 2005 http://www.usbr.gov/pn/agrimet. o The NDAWN website at North Dakota (ND) State University http://ndawn.ndsu.nodak.edu/applications.html has been completely revamped. o Training sessions on irrigation water management have been held for NRCS personnel, Technical Service Providers and irrigators at several locations in North Dakota. o An irrigation-scheduling program for the Palm operating system has been developed and is currently being used by several irrigators at various locations across North Dakota. o AZSCHED Version 1.13 (V1.13) (AriZona irrigation SCHEDuling) program, is now available on-line to download onto personal computers developed by the University of Arizona. o AZSCHED V2.0 and is being tested in-house. o The AgriPartner program of Texas Cooperative Extension summarized on-farm irrigation and dryland demonstrations where the NPET models and data were again validated in 2004-2005. o Texas A&M efforts entailed continuing operations and maintenance regarding the Texas High Plains ET network (TXHPET). o An Urban Landscape Water Conservation Coordinating Committee (Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire President, Dan Smeal - Secretary) was formed in New Mexico to coordinate knowledge and activities connected to desert landscaping and water conservation. o The ULWCCC is organizing a March 2005 conference in Albuquerque pertaining to water conservation in arid landscapes. Objective 2. Coordinate identification of existing climate based irrigation scheduling methods or tools. o Developed a modified SEBAL calculator for using ASTAR data to measure ET. o Work by R.L. Snyder and S. Eching on the Landscape Irrigation Management Program (LIMP) added the ability to adjust landscape coefficients for slope and aspect to the application program. o The AgriMet program by USBR is working to implement an on-line irrigation scheduling program in the Pacific Northwest. o A water utilization project using irrigation to reduce the amount of water draining into Devils Lake, North Dakota (a closed basin with no outlet) has just begun. It plans to use a variant of SEBAL to analyze the water use in the basin using satellite imagery. o The Percent Canopy Cover (PCC) as suggested by Ted Sammis of New Mexico is implemented. Work is being done in Yuma to test this tool (use of PCC) and its application in AZSCHED. o A literature review of crop coefficients and other techniques for managing irrigations on turfgrass has been implemented. Objective 3. Coordinate acceptance of a standardized reference evapotranspiration equation. o Presented reference evapotranspiration equation on New Mexico climate network web site and showed comparison of old reference Et to new Et equations. o In California, the ETo equation of Pruitt and Doorenbos (1977) is used in CIMIS. However, hourly estimates of ETo from the standardized reference evapotranspiration equation are provided by CIMIS for use by sophisticated growers, researchers, and engineers. o AgriMet program by USBR is developing software to implement new standardized reference ET equation. o The ASCE standardized reference ET equations (ETrs and ETos) were compared to the Jensen-Haise and the NDAWN reference ET (Penman based) equations. Weather data from the Carrington NDAWN site from the 1992, 1996 and 2002 growing seasons (May 1 September 30) were used for the comparison. The Jensen-Haise reference ET values (used for irrigation scheduling in North Dakota) had a much better fit to the standardized ETos equation than the NDAWN reference equation but didnt fit the ETrs equation very well. However, the NDAWN reference ET equation fit the ETrs values very well. o Preliminary comparisons of the newly drafted ASCE ETo equation on an hourly basis to that of daily computations has generally agreed to a multiple digit level with regards to daily summations. Coordinated corrections and clarifications of the ASCE/EWRI standardized reference evapotranspiration manual through trial calculations to verify the 15º solar angle cutoff on hourly solar radiation for nighttime Rs/Rso with Drs. Richard Snyder and Richard Allen. Final verifications of the hourly computations have not been made against the spreadsheet calculator of Rick Snyder due to changes made to the spreadsheet recently (past week), although previous comparisons were nearly identical. All research papers have typically included both ETos and ETrs, but crop coefficients have been expressed mainly on ETos. Objective 4. Coordinate the identification and documentation of crop coefficients used in irrigation scheduling and the methods by which coefficients are moved forward in time (accumulated heat units, % crop cover, time, etc.). o Crop coefficients for creosote ornamentals was accepted for publication in Agr. Water Management. o A visitor from Egypt (Atef Ghandours) has been working with R.L. Snyder at U.C. Davis to accumulate literature on crop coefficients for use by the EWRI task committee on crop coefficients. Three studies on the crop coefficients of citrus were published and work on the Kc values for onions was initiated. o Crop coefficients for the 10 most irrigated crops in North Dakota were developed many years ago for use with the Jensen-Haise reference ET equation based on days past emergence (DPE). The crop coefficients for potatoes were checked as part of other ongoing research and generally found to be correct. o Working with the BOR staff in Yuma, new crop water use data to verify the data already used in AZSCHED for citrus are developed. o Crop coefficients for cotton were developed and will be published soon (Aug./Sept. issue) in Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering (ASCE) and crop coefficients were presented at a 2004 ASAE/CSAE meeting. All NPET crop development models and Kc data are based on GDD models for wheat, sorghum, corn, cotton, peanut, and soybean for the Texas High Plains. Several of these Kc data are being used by groundwater districts successfully in Kansas. o ET of cool season and warm season turfgrass cultivars was measured in 2005 at the Farmington ASC for calibration of turfgrass crop coefficients developed at the site in 2001. o Water requirements of drip-irrigated, drought-tolerant (xeric) landscape species (96) in a xeriscape demonstration garden were evaluated. Irrigation treatments were 0, 20, 40, and 60 percent of Penman-Monteith (FAO-56, tall) reference ET. o Water requirements of drip-irrigated vegetables (tomatoes, chile peppers, and sweet corn) were investigated. A randomized, replicated (3) plot design with three irrigation treatments: 50, 75, and 100% of FAO-56 PM reference ET was used.

Publications

Publications Attachment:

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Impact Statements

Development of a MSEBAL method that allows for downloading of ASTAR data from the internet free and processing it using free software will allow for evaluation of forest management strategies in New Mexico. It will also allow consulting firms to process satellite data that currently is too costly to use. The future use of Modus Data at a 1 km resolution for every day over flight will make the tool useful for evaluating large scale irrigation district operation in the whole United States.
The LIMP program is available on the web at http://biomet.ucdavis.edu and it has been promoted extensively for use in direct irrigation as well as by controller manufactures. The use of the standardized equation by researchers has been promoted extensively and most researchers are now using the standardized method rather than the Pruitt and Doorenbos (1977) method.
The crop water use maps and tables are used extensively for irrigation scheduling. In June, July, August of 2004 the crop water use website handled over 55,000 successful requests for pages. The average daily access to the site was over 500. The busiest day of the week was Monday with over 20,000 total requests for information. Over 900 distinct computers accessed the site and since there are about 1500 irrigators in North Dakota, this indicates many irrigators and crop consultants are using the
The irrigation website for the University of Arizona (http://ag.arizona.edu/crops/irrigation/irrigation.html) continues to be an educational and information hub for agricultural water information in the state. Information on crop water use, irrigation management and irrigation scheduling can all be found on at this site. To date, over 300 copies of AZSCHED V1.13 have been distributed.
The lysimeters and crop use water use estimates of Bushland and Uvalde have had on Texas irrigation water use demand models again cannot be overstated. The data is currently being used by many individuals from many agencies, universities and industries. It has been estimated that 44 Hatch projects have depended on or use the TXHPET data annually.
Significant feasibility findings of several conservation strategies to reduce Region A irrigation water in use in the future were preliminarily analyzed and reported on at the ASCE World Water Congress in Anchorage, AK.
The NPET network crop water use data has also become the cornerstone data by which the regional water planning group has recommended acceptable water application limits. Groundwater conservation districts have also used the NPET network crop water use data as the basis in proposing and adopting new pumping and application limits in their rules and regulations.