IMPROVING IRRIGATION
MANAGEMENT
Earl Vories, Agricultural Engineer
USDA-ARS Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit
Portageville, MO
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Disclaimer
Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for purpose of
providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or
endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Improving Irrigation Management for Humid and
Subhumid Climates
Goal
Our goal is to develop solutions to broad water
management problems with application to
humid and sub-humid areas in the USA and the
world.
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Participating Scientists
Agricultural Research Service
Earl Vories - Lead Scientist
John Sadler
Ken Sudduth
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Participating Scientists
University of Missouri
Joe Henggeler - Principal Investigator
Allen Thompson
Gene Stevens
David Dunn
Andrea Jones
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Mid-South
Lower Mississippi (WRA 08)
 Portions of Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas,
Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana
 11.4 million acres of farmland
 Primarily subhumid climate
 Average annual rainfall > 40 inches

Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Mid-South irrigation methods
49% furrow
 29% flood
 21% center pivot
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Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Top Mid-South states in 2008 irrigated area

Arkansas
million acres (4th)
 675,000 acre 10-year increase (2nd largest)
 4.5

Mississippi
million acres (12th)
 259,000 acre 10-year increase (4th largest)
 1.5

Missouri
million acres (13th)
 279,000 acre 10-year increase (3rd largest)
 1.2
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Most Mid-South irrigation water from
groundwater
Missouri - 97%
 Mississippi - 95%
 Tennessee - 81%
 Arkansas - 80%
 Louisiana - 76%
 Kentucky - 61%

Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Improving Irrigation Management for Humid and
Subhumid Climates
Objectives:
1. Evaluate and optimize production systems to
optimize water use efficiency under variable
weather conditions.
2. Evaluate the suitability of variable-rate center
pivot irrigation (part of multi-location effort).
3. Evaluate the quality of runoff from irrigated
cropland.
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Minimizing water use for rice production:
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rice field water monitoring
sprinkler irrigated rice
comparing production systems
developing and refining crop coefficients
determining water/yield relationship
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Mid-South farmers grew 60% of total
US rice crop in 2003 (USDA-NASS, 2004)

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Mostly produced in flooded culture
Generally requires more irrigation water than other
crops produced in the region
Published estimate for Arkansas: 760 mm, based on
several years of on-farm observations
 Vories et al. (2006) reported 460 - 1435 mm for 33
Arkansas fields during 2003 through 2005
 Smith et al. (2006) reported 382 - 1034 mm in
Mississippi in 2003 and 2004

Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Floodwater depth sensor

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Float-switch type sensors used
in 2008 (high or low).
Other experimental sensors
will be tested to provide
information about actual
depth of water, not just high
or low.
Sensors being developed as
part of another project (e.g.,
fuel flow, dynamic water
table depth) will be included.
Prototype depth sensor
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Conclusions – surface irrigation
monitoring
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Remote monitoring could aid farmers in managing
surface irrigation.
Ag conditions/environment present challenges for
designing/constructing sensors that will last whole
season (preferably multiple seasons).
Testing/improving with rice has continued.
Working with furrow again.
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Center pivot rice production
Rice production under center pivot irrigation
investigated in 1980's
 Problems precluded adoption
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poor weed control
disease (blast)
towers got stuck
low yield (maybe due to others)
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Center Pivot Rice Production

renewed interest, US and internationally
 improved
cultivars and hybrids
 additional herbicides and fungicides
 improved tower/sprinkler arrangements
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
If we grow rice like other crops, we
have to consider irrigation scheduling
Irrigation scheduling more difficult in subhumid regions than arid
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Clouds, rainfall, temperature swings all complicate
irrigation scheduling
Weather conditions vary greatly year to year and
within year
Most scheduling methods measure or estimate soil
water content
 highly
variable soils limited measurements
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Basal Rice Crop Coefficient, Short Grass Reference
FAO 56 - assuming 5 days planting to emergence
Arkansas Irrigation Scheduler beta version
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Center Pivot Rice Study Area Showing
Soil Mapping Units
Soil Mapping Units
Dd = Dundee sandy loam
De = Dundee silt loam
Re = Reelfoot loam
Rf = Reelfoot sandy loam
Tp = Tiptonville silt loam
Water savings (relative to
flood) not always goal;
sometimes goal to bring rice
into crop rotation
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Real-time Weather at University
of Mo. Fisher Delta Research
Center Marsh Farm
(http://agebb.missouri.edu/wea
ther/realtime/portageville.asp)
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Estimated SWD, rainfall and irrigation between emergence
and final irrigation - 2009
Irrigation
first: 6/19
final: 9/11
34 d - 414 mm
Rain during
irrigation period
31 d -296 mm
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Watermark sensors - 2009
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Summary & Conclusions

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AIS appeared to respond as expected and yields
from different studies suggested crop not drought
stressed
AIS and Watermark data suggested more irrigation
water may have been applied than necessary for
optimal crop growth
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Summary & Conclusions
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Current phase uses beta version of AIS to schedule
irrigations
Soil moisture sensors to indicate how well the AIS
describes soil moisture
Data should indicate whether current crop coefficient
is adequate
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Precision irrigation
• “Off-the-shelf” and aftermarket systems
available for variable rate (VR) application of
seed, lime, fertilizer, pesticides, plant growth
regulators, and defoliants.
• Cannot realize the full potential of those
benefits if we do not properly manage water.
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Irrigation Management Approaches
(non site-specific)
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Ensure that the smallest water holding capacity
receives adequate water
Match the needs of the average (or largest) soil
water conditions
Limit applications to avoid overwatering the
wettest areas
In all cases, parts of the field are either over- or
under-irrigated
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Some VR capability “off the shelf”
1”
0.8”
1.2”
1”
0.5”
1”
change
travel
speed;
unable to
vary
application
rate along
pipeline
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Can we have site-specific management (precision
agriculture) for irrigation?
VR Irrigation Potential Benefits
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Improve irrigation management/efficiency (don’t
under- or over-water)
Reduce nutrient leaching/runoff (not overwatering)
Reduce disease (not stressing portions of field)
Increase yields
Optimize pumping costs; save water/energy
Future regulatory benefits
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI)
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University of Georgia, with Farmscan (Australia),
developed a distributed control system –
Variable-Rate Irrigation
Valmont and Lindsay both have VRI systems
Use pneumatic (Georgia), hydraulic (Valmont),
or electric (Lindsay) valves to vary sprinklers
from 100% (always on) to 0% (always off) or
used pulsing for rates in between
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Develop Zone Control
Package
• Layout center pivot
configuration
• Determine fixed or
variable length zones
• Layout control zones
• Review hydraulics
On-farm VRI field
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
DualEM “Deep” (0 - ~9’)
ECa (mS/m)
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Valley VRI Zone Control Prescription
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Field on May 9, 2011
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Working toward real-time VRI
datalogger, transmitter
interrogator
pivot point
soil moisture
sensor
thermocouple or
other temperature
sensorResearch and Technology into Practice
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Global Positioning System
Instrumentation for
Sensing Drought
and Nutrient
Stresses
Pyranometer
(sunlight)
Air Temperature and
Relative Humidity
GreenSeeker
Infrared Thermometer
(canopy temperature)
Crop
Circle
Ultrasonic
(crop height)
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Potential Roadblocks For
Implementing VRI
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Cost (in today’s economic situation)
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Farm Bill includes potential cost-share funds
Potential for lightning damage
Technology is new
Fairly steep learning curve
Pressure fluctuations when sprinklers or end gun
cycled - pumps need to match changing
conditions (steep vs. flat pump curves)
Age / diversity of current pivot systems
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Determining nutrient content of runoff from
surface drained land
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Why Southeast Missouri?
• Irrigated crops, especially rice
• Surface, rather than subsurface drainage
that has been studied more
• Do controlled drainage principles from
surface drainage apply in this region?
• Exploratory work began in January 2006
• Current effort started in June 2011
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Findings
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO
Future Plans – runoff monitoring
• Refine ratings curves
• Define watersheds
• Begin event sampling
Final thought: Irrigation alone is not
enough!
After a year like 2012, easy to forget
that irrigation is just one component in
the production system
 Also have to optimize
•
•
•
•
drainage
cultivar selection
weed control
fertility
Translating Missouri USDA-ARS Research and Technology into Practice
A training session provided by USDA-ARS-CSWQRU, 10-11 October 2012, Columbia, MO