Class
Article
College
College of Engineering
Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Faculty Mentor
Niel Allen
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The State of Utah is funding agricultural water optimization studies to determine how agricultural water depletion can be decreased while maintaining or improving yields. Conversion from surface irrigation to drip irrigation is being investigated as a method to decrease consumptive use. Some Utah onion producers are converting from furrow irrigation to drip irrigation to decrease water and fertilizer use and improve profits. This study will compare the consumptive use and yield of three drip irrigated onion fields to three furrow irrigated onion fields. To conduct the study arrays of soil moisture sensors at various depths were placed in drip and furrow irrigated onion fields during 2019 and 2020. Soil moisture readings were taken every 30 minutes. Infrared radiometers were used to measure soil surface and crop canopy temperatures, allowing for estimations of evaporation from the soil surface using energy balance models. Flowmeters were used to measure irrigation inflows and surface outflows. Evapotranspiration (depletion) will be estimated using a soil moisture budget, energy budget, and climate data. Yield measurements at the soil moisture sites were taken after the onions were lifted. Analyses of drip and furrow irrigation diversions, irrigation depletions, and yields will be conducted to compare the irrigation methods. Preliminary results show that the furrow irrigated fields generally have a higher yield due to more uniform irrigation, however, 2 to 3 times more water was applied than on the drip irrigated fields. The drip irrigated fields had lower depletions and higher irrigation efficiencies. Preliminary results also indicate that yields in drip irrigated fields can be improved with changes in the irrigation system design and better irrigation scheduling. A literature review of similar studies, detailed methodology, and an in-depth discussion of results will also be presented. Presentation Time: Thursday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/87293114488?pwd=QmxrWlM0TnB1RWdPbnkvRE9WZEZIZz09
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-9-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Comparison of Onion Irrigation Methods: Furrow Versus Drip
Logan, UT
The State of Utah is funding agricultural water optimization studies to determine how agricultural water depletion can be decreased while maintaining or improving yields. Conversion from surface irrigation to drip irrigation is being investigated as a method to decrease consumptive use. Some Utah onion producers are converting from furrow irrigation to drip irrigation to decrease water and fertilizer use and improve profits. This study will compare the consumptive use and yield of three drip irrigated onion fields to three furrow irrigated onion fields. To conduct the study arrays of soil moisture sensors at various depths were placed in drip and furrow irrigated onion fields during 2019 and 2020. Soil moisture readings were taken every 30 minutes. Infrared radiometers were used to measure soil surface and crop canopy temperatures, allowing for estimations of evaporation from the soil surface using energy balance models. Flowmeters were used to measure irrigation inflows and surface outflows. Evapotranspiration (depletion) will be estimated using a soil moisture budget, energy budget, and climate data. Yield measurements at the soil moisture sites were taken after the onions were lifted. Analyses of drip and furrow irrigation diversions, irrigation depletions, and yields will be conducted to compare the irrigation methods. Preliminary results show that the furrow irrigated fields generally have a higher yield due to more uniform irrigation, however, 2 to 3 times more water was applied than on the drip irrigated fields. The drip irrigated fields had lower depletions and higher irrigation efficiencies. Preliminary results also indicate that yields in drip irrigated fields can be improved with changes in the irrigation system design and better irrigation scheduling. A literature review of similar studies, detailed methodology, and an in-depth discussion of results will also be presented. Presentation Time: Thursday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/87293114488?pwd=QmxrWlM0TnB1RWdPbnkvRE9WZEZIZz09