2014 Pre-plant and Early
Irrigation Strategies
James P. Bordovsky, P.E.
Texas A&M AgriLife Research
Lubbock / Halfway, Texas
18 Jan. 2014
Plainview, TX
Acknowledgements
Texas State Support Committee, Cotton Inc.
USDA-ARS Ogallala Research Initiative
TAMU Cropping Systems Initiative
Texas Water Development Board
Joe Mustian
Research Associate
David Winters
Research Assistant
Andy Cranmer
Farm Research Service Manager
High Plains ET Network
Marek, Porter, Howell, Dir.
Aquifers of Texas
Texas A&M
AgriLife,
Halfway
Source: Texas Water Development Board
Average Daily ETref at Halfway, 1977-2010
ETref , (inches/day)
0.4
June 14
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
Mar-00
May-00
Jul-00
Month
Sep-00
Nov-00
Average Daily ETref at Halfway, 1977-2010
Water Depth, (inches/day)
0.4
June 14
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
Mar-00
Cotton
Transpiration
May-00
Jul-00
Month
Sep-00
Nov-00
Average Daily ETref at Halfway, 1977-2010
Water Depth, (inches/day)
0.4
Irrigation
Capacity
0.3
0.2
0.1
Cotton
Transpiration
0.0
Mar-00
May-00
Jul-00
Month
Sep-00
Nov-00
Average Daily ETref at Halfway, 1977-2010
Water Depth, (inches/day)
0.4
Irrigation
Capacity
0.3
0.2
0.1
Cotton
Transpiration
0.0
Mar-00
May-00
Jul-00
Month
Sep-00
Nov-00
Average Daily ETref at Halfway, 1977-2010
Water Depth, (inches/day)
0.4
Early Irrigation
Period
Irrigation
Capacity
0.3
0.2
0.1
Cotton
Transpiration
0.0
Mar-00
May-00
Jul-00
Month
Sep-00
Nov-00
Average Daily ETref at Halfway, 1977-2010
Water Depth, (inches/day)
0.4
Early Irrigation
Period
Irrigation
Capacity
0.3
0.2
0.1
Cotton
Transpiration
0.0
Mar-00
May-00
Jul-00
Month
Sep-00
Nov-00
1999-2001 Irrigation Study
1999-2001 Plot Plan
LEPA/Spray/Drip
Access Tube Locations - In-Season Irrigation 2001
2001 LSDMap1.ppt
LEPA
L.0B
Spray
LEPA
Spray
S.0A
LEPA
LEPA
L.0A
Spray
Spray
S.0A
LEPA
Spray
S.0B
D.0A
N
1
Plot Size =
60’ x 16r
L.1A
16
S.2B
17
L.2B
32
33
D.2A
L.1B
48
L.0B
31
47
L.1B
46
L.2A
49
64
S.1B
S.1A
65
L.2A
63
66
80
81
S.2A
D.2B
LEPA & Spray
Treatments (White
– 6 reps)
R6
2
15
L.2A
S.2B
34
D.1A
14
19
S.1B
L.1B
30
S.2A
35
L.1A
L.2B
S.1A
3
Dry-Dry
18
50
D.1B
S.2A
L.1A
79
S.1B
82
D.0B
67
L.2B
78
S.2B
83
D.2B
R5
51
S.1A
62
D.2A
SDI Treatments
(Blue – 3 reps)
R4
4
20
29
S.2A
D.1B
S.1B
L.2A
L.1A
12
21
28
37
44
L.2A
S.1A
L.2B
S.2B
D.2A
6
L.1A
11
S.1B
L.2A
27
D.1A
L.2B
7
10
23
39
L.1B
13
36
45
52
61
68
S.2B
L.2B
S.1A
D.0B
53
60
69
76
85
Dry-Dry
S.1B
L.1A
S.2A
D.2B
43
D.1B
54
S.2A
70
S.1A
L.1B
75
S.2B
86
D.0B
42
55
58
71
74
87
D.0A
L.0A
S.0B
41
56
73
88
D.1A
77
84
R3
5
L.1B
Dry (Red – 3 reps)
R2
22
38
59
R1
S.0B
8
9
L.0B
24
26
S.0A
25
40
L =LEPA
.0 = No Seasonal Irr.
A = Full Preplant Irr.
S = Spray
.1 = 0.1”/day
B = Limited Preplant Irr.
D= Drip
.2 = 0.2”/day
L.0A
57
72
Plot Size 60’ x 18 rows
Change in Profile Soil Water From 3/13/00 to 3/15/00
Drip = 0.44 in, Rain = 0.00 in, ETo = 0.24 in, Change in SW = 0.55 in
S o i l P r o f i l e E l e v a ti o n ( i n c h e s )
50
4.00
3.75
3.50
3.25
3.00
2.75
2.50
2.25
2.00
1.75
1.50
1.25
1.00
0.75
0.50
0.25
0.00
-0.25
Change in
Soil Water
(inches / foot)
40
30
20
10
0
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
Distance From Center of Bed (inches)
30
40
Change in Profile Soil Water From 3/13/00 to 4/3/00
Drip = 2.144 in, Rain = 2.87 in, ETo = 2.69 in, Change in SW = 3.90 in
S o i l P r o f i l e E l e v a ti o n ( i n c h e s )
50
4.00
3.75
3.50
3.25
3.00
2.75
2.50
2.25
2.00
1.75
1.50
1.25
1.00
0.75
0.50
0.25
0.00
-0.25
Change in
Soil Water
(inches / foot)
40
30
20
10
0
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
Distance From Center of Bed (inches)
30
40
Change in Profile Soil Water From 3/13/00 to 5/3/00
Drip = 4.50 in, Rain = 3.82 in, ETo = 9.34 in, Change in SW = 3.95 in
S o i l P r o f i l e E l e v a ti o n ( i n c h e s )
50
4.00
3.75
3.50
3.25
3.00
2.75
2.50
2.25
2.00
1.75
1.50
1.25
1.00
0.75
0.50
0.25
0.00
-0.25
Change in
Soil Water
(inches / foot)
40
30
20
10
0
-40
-30
-20
-10
0
10
20
Distance From Center of Bed (inches)
30
40
1999-2001 Estimated Reduction of Profile SW
as a Percentage of Rain and Applied Water
During PP Irrigation Period
System
1999 2000 2001
Average
Spray
60%
58%
83%
67%
LEPA
43%
61%
76%
60%
SDI
29%
55%
57%
47%
1999-2001 Estimated Reduction of Profile SW
as a Percentage of Rain and Applied Water
During PP Irrigation Period
System
1999 2000 2001
Average
Spray
60%
58%
83%
67%
LEPA
43%
61%
76%
60%
SDI
29%
55%
57%
47%
1999-2001 Estimated Reduction of Profile SW
as a Percentage of Rain and Applied Water
During PP Irrigation Period
System
1999 2000 2001
Average
Spray
60%
58%
83%
67%
LEPA
43%
61%
76%
60%
SDI
29%
55%
57%
47%
SDI is more efficient than LEPA or spray
• increase in yield of 21 to 59% over spray
• increase in yield of 5 to 29% over LEPA
Background
• When do you use available water?
(pumping volume restrictions)
• How much yield is given up by
diverting water from cotton to other
crops (corn) within a season?
• What is the effect of well capacity
decline during the growing season?
Objectives
• Determine WUE during
different cotton growth
periods
• Improve irrigation
recommendations for
limited irrigated cotton
Factors
In-season Irrigation Periods
Irrigation Capacity
Cotton Water Demand at Halfway, Texas
Based on ETo & HU accumulation from 1978-2010 and Crop Curve Developed at Texas AgriLife Research
Average Water Requirement (in/d)
0.30
Irrigation Period 1
Vegetative/Juvenile
(~ < 950 hu)
0.20
0.10
0.00
1-May
May 15
Emergence
Date
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
Some data obtained from the Texas High Plains ET Network. Marek,
Porter, & Howell, Directors
Cotton Water Demand at Halfway, Texas
Based on ETo & HU accumulation from 1978-2010 and Crop Curve Developed at Texas AgriLife Research
Average Water Requirement (in/d)
0.30
Irrigation Period 1
Vegetative/Juvenile
(~ < 950 hu)
0.20
0.10
0.00
1-May
May 15
Emergence
Date
Irrigation Period 2
Reproductive
(~ 950 to 1350 hu)
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
Some data obtained from the Texas High Plains ET Network. Marek,
Porter, & Howell, Directors
Cotton Water Demand at Halfway, Texas
Based on ETo & HU accumulation from 1978-2010 and Crop Curve Developed at Texas AgriLife Research
Average Water Requirement (in/d)
0.30
Irrigation Period 1
Vegetative/Juvenile
(~ < 950 hu)
0.20
Irrigation Period 3
Maturation
(> 1350 hu)
0.10
0.00
1-May
May 15
Emergence
Date
Irrigation Period 2
Reproductive
(~ 950 to 1350 hu)
1-Jun
1-Jul
1-Aug
1-Sep
Cotton Response to In-season Changes in Irrigation Capacity
Irrigation Capacity
Low
0” /d
Cotton Response to In-season Changes in Irrigation Capacity
Irrigation Capacity
Low
Med
0” /d
0.125”/d
2.36 gpm/ac
Cotton Response to In-season Changes in Irrigation Capacity
Irrigation Capacity
Low
Med
High
0” /d
0.125”/d
0.25”/d
2.36 gpm/ac
4.7 gpm/ac
Table 1. Irrigation capacities at three cotton plant growth stages of 27 proposed irrigation
treatments.
All Combinations of Factor Levels
Crop Development Periods
Treat. No.
Period 1
Period 2
1
Treat. Name
LLL
Period 3
Low
Low
Low
2
LLM
Low
Low
Medium
3
LLH
Low
Low
High
4
LML
Low
Medium
Low
5
LMM
Low
Medium
Medium
6
LMH
Low
Medium
High
7
LHL
Low
High
Low
8
LHM
Low
High
Medium
9
LHH
Low
High
High
10
MLL
Medium
Low
Low
11
MLM
Medium
Low
Medium
12
MLH
Medium
Low
High
13
MML
Medium
Medium
Low
14
MMM
Medium
Medium
Medium
15
MMH
Medium
Medium
High
16
MHL
Medium
High
Low
17
MHM
Medium
High
Medium
18
MHH
Medium
High
High
19
HLL
High
Low
Low
20
HLM
High
Low
Medium
21
HLH
High
Low
High
22
HML
High
Medium
Low
23
HMM
High
Medium
Medium
24
HMH
High
Medium
High
25
HHL
High
High
Low
26
HHM
High
High
Medium
27
HHH
High
High
High
Table 1. Irrigation capacities at three cotton plant growth stages of 27 proposed irrigation
treatments.
All Combinations of Factor Levels
Crop Development Periods
Treat. No.
Period 1
Period 2
1
Treat. Name
LLL
Low
Low
Low
2
LLM
Low
Low
Medium
3
LLH
Low
Low
High
4
LML
Low
Medium
Low
5
LMM
Low
Medium
Medium
6
LMH
Low
Medium
High
7
LHL
Low
High
Low
8
LHM
Low
High
Medium
9
LHH
Low
High
High
10
MLL
Medium
Low
Low
11
MLM
Medium
Low
Medium
12
MLH
Medium
Low
High
13
MML
Medium
Medium
Low
14
MMM
Medium
Medium
Medium
15
MMH
Medium
Medium
High
16
MHL
Medium
High
Low
17
MHM
Medium
High
Medium
18
MHH
Medium
High
High
19
HLL
High
Low
Low
20
HLM
High
Low
Medium
21
HLH
High
Low
High
22
HML
High
Medium
Low
23
HMM
High
Medium
Medium
24
HMH
High
Medium
High
25
HHL
High
High
Low
26
HHM
High
High
Medium
27
HHH
High
High
High
LMH
Low – Medium – High
1st
period – irrigation capacity of 0.0”/d
2nd period – irrigation capacity of 0.125”/d
3rd period – irrigation capacity of 0.25”/d
Period 3
Methodology (2013)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
9.5 acres – 81 plots
No. of treatments – 27 x 3 reps
Plot size – 8 rows x 160 to 640
Variety – FM 9180 B2F on May 13
Nutrients – Site-specific based on soil sampling
Irrigation period – 13 June – 7 Sept
Pre-plant and at plant irr. amt. – 3” LEPA + 0.9”
Spray = 3.9”
• In-season irr. amt. – 0” to 15.3”
• Data collected – volumetric soil water content,
canopy temp, nodes above white bloom, plant
map, yield
Variable Rate Irrigation
FARMSCAN 7000 VRI
Rick Heard, Advanced Ag Systems, Inc., Dothan, Alabama (913) 660 2954
Monthly Rain
2010
2012
2011
2013
4
100-yr
Avg.
Rain 4
4
4
2
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
J F MAM J J A S ON D
J FMAM J J A SOND
J F MAM J J A S ON D
Annual Rain = 21.94”
Annual Rain = 5.38”
Annual Rain = 13.7”
J FMAM J J A SOND
Annual Rain = 14.5”
LLL
Oct 7, 2011
0.0” S. Irr.
29 lb/ac
LLL
Oct 21, 2013
0.0” S. Irr.
485 lb/ac
MMM
Oct 7, 2011
10.0” S. Irr.
382 lb/ac
MMM
Oct 21, 2013
9.97” S. Irr.
1173 lb/ac
LMM
Oct 21, 2013
6.97” S. Irr.
1155 lb/ac
HHH
Oct 7, 2011
17.6” S. Irr.
860 lb/ac
HHH
Oct 21, 2013
15.3” S. Irr.
1559 lb/ac
MHH
Oct 21, 2013
14.6” S. Irr.
1625 lb/ac
LHH
Oct 21, 2013
12.9” S. Irr.
1622 lb/ac
Lint Yield Contribution from Irrigation by Period, 2010-2013
1500
3rd Period
2nd Period
1st Period
Lint Yield (lb/ac)
1000
500
0
PP + Rain
4-Year Average Lint Yield and Water Productivity, 2010-2013
1500
36 lb/ac-in
3 lb/ac-in
Lint Yield (lb/ac)
1000
79 lb/ac-in
500
0
LLL
LHH
MHH
HHH
0.0"
11.3"
13.3"
14.1"
4-Year Average Lint Yield and Water Productivity, 2010-2013
1500
4 lb/ac-in
Lint Yield (lb/ac)
1000
19 lb/ac-in
78 lb/ac-in
500
0
LLL
LMM
MMM
HMM
0.0"
6.3"
9.0"
11.2"
4-Year Average Lint Yield and Water Productivity, 2010-2013
1500
170 lb/ac-in
Lint Yield (lb/ac)
1000
111 lb/ac-in
500
27 lb/ac-in
0
LLL
HHL
HHM
HHH
0.0"
9.1"
12.8"
14.1"
4-Year Average Lint Yield and Water Productivity, 2010-2013
1500
Lint Yield (lb/ac)
1000
103 lb/ac-in
96 lb/ac-in
500
29 lb/ac-in
0
LLL
MML
MMM
MMH
0.0"
5.4"
9.0"
11.7"
Conclusions
• Attempting to build “profile water”
early in growing season (with pivot
irrigation) reduces irrigation water
value
• High irrigation water value is obtained
during the 2nd and 3rd periods
Acres That Can Be Irrigated Based on Peak Crop Need, Well Flow Rate, Water
Productivity (Efficiency). Assumes total dependance on irrigation for crop water.
If needs are = 0.15 in/d (2.8gpm/ac)
Flow Rate
(gpm)
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
Water Productivity
50%
75%
100%
18
35
53
71
88
106
124
141
159
27
53
80
106
133
159
186
212
239
35
71
106
141
177
212
247
283
318
If needs are = 0.25 in/d (4.7gpm/ac)
Water Productivity
50%
75%
100%
11
21
32
42
53
64
74
85
95
16
32
48
64
80
95
111
127
143
21
42
64
85
106
127
148
170
191
SDI Irrigation Interval (2009 – 2012)
Irrigation intervals
– 0.25-days
– 2 - days
– 7- days
Irrigation quantities
– High Irr. Level = ~ 80% ETcrop
– Low Irr. Level = 50% of High Irr.
Level
SDI Configuration
30"
30"
Drip Laterals
Lateral Depth – 8”
North
Rain (Apr 1- Sept 30)
Rain (in)
16
12
8
4
Dry Summers
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
Wet Winter
Yield - Low Irrigation
Lint Yield (lb ac-1)
2000
1500
0.25-d
aa
a
2-d
7-d
a aa
1000
a
a
a
aa
a
a aa
500
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
4-yr Avg.
F<0.05, Tukey
Yield - High Irrigation
Lint Yield (lb ac-1)
2000
1500
a
0.25-d
aa
aa a
2-d
7-d
a
a
b
b
b
b
b
b
a
1000
500
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
4-yr Avg.
F<0.05, Tukey
Loan Value - High Irrigation
Lint Loan Value ($ lb-1)
0.6
0.25-d
2-d
ba a
0.58
aa a
0.56
7-d
a
ab
b
a
bb
0.54
0.52
a
ab
b
0.5
2009
2010
2011
2012
4-yr Avg.
F<0.05, Tukey
Summary
–7-d interval did not reduce cotton lint
yield compared to 0.25-d or 2-d intervals
–7-d interval did not reduce fiber quality
compared to 0.25-d or 2-d intervals
Germination can be an
issue with SDI
Picture on June 1, 2011
SDI Laterals on 40”
40” crop rows
Treatment 1
1.00
Planting Date
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Treatment 2
Irrigation Quantity (in.)
1.20
1.00
Planting Date
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Treatment 3
1.20
Irrigation Quantity (in.)
2011 Helm Research Farm
Irrigation Quantity (in.)
1.20
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
Planting Date
2011 Helm Research Farm
2011 Helm Research Farm
2011 Helm Research Farm
Lateral Depth – 13”
Lateral Spacing – 60”
Row Spacing – 30”
Yield – 900 lb/ac
July 7, 2011
Helm Research Farm
Normal Crop Row Location
July 27, 2011
Helm Research Farm
July 27, 2011
Helms Research Farm
Average Yield – 900 lb/ac
If germination is assured by
planting directly over the
drip tape (skip row), how
long do you wait for rain to
improve germination with a
traditional planting scheme?
2012
Harvest date – Oct 23
Traditional – 1959 lb/ac
60” spacing – 1547 lb/ac
2013
Traditional Plant
60” SDI Laterals, 30” Rows
2013
Over Lateral Plant
60” SDI Laterals, 60” Rows
2013
Traditional Plant
60” SDI Laterals, 30” Rows
2013
Over Lateral Plant
60” SDI Laterals, 60” Rows
2013 SDI Cotton Yield, Previously Irrigated
F6 Helms
2,000
Lint Yield (lb/ac)
1,500
1,000
500
0
Skip Row
Every Row
Thank You….