Progress 06/11/03 to 12/31/07

Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this agreement is to ensure the development of critical research information on irrigated cropping systems by the cooperative installation, deployment, and use of precision, self-propelled linear move and center pivot irrigation systems. The linear move irrigation systems will be used to develop and test precision water and chemical application systems and to assess their use high value irrigated cropping production systems and their role in improving water and soil quality and ecologically-sound pest management practices and technologies. Specific objectives are: 1) to determine the relative crop yields under various cropping sequences and water use efficiency from two irrigation frequencies; 2) to monitor the effect of irrigated crop production on soil properties in the transition from dryland to irrigated conditions (characterize changes in soil properties, soil structure, microflora, microbes, OM, disease incidence and weed emergence [species]); 3) to test and evaluate precision self-propelled irrigation techniques and establish management criteria for sandy soils in the semi-arid NGP, and 4) to develop procedures for wireless sensor-based irrigation scheduling of precision self-propelled irrigation systems�tied to a computer, in combination with on-site weather data, remotely sensed data, and grower preferences. Approach (from AD-416) The Agricultural Systems Research Unit, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS and the NDSU Agricultural Experiment Station through the Williston Research Extension Center (14120 Hwy 2, Williston, ND 58801-8629 ) will cooperatively install, maintain and utilize lateral-move irrigation systems on the NDSU Nesson Valley Research Farm to jointly develop irrigated cropping systems research to provide innovative and credible solutions that enhance soil and water quality, conserve natural resources, and reduce producer�s dependence on agrochemicals. ARS will conduct the development of precision irrigation hardware/software and conduct irrigation and soil management aspects of the research and the North Dakota State University will conduct agronomic components of the research. The focus will be on assessing the environmental impacts of cultural practices and improved management of water, nutrient and chemical applications in irrigated cropping systems. This effort will be directed towards sugar beet, potato, and small grain crop sequences under self-propelled irrigation systems. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations Final Progress Report was submitted in FY-2007 when the project officially terminated. Administrative close-out processes were completed upon submission of the Final Financial Status and Performance Reports from the Cooperating Institution.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07

Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this agreement is to ensure the development of critical research information on irrigated cropping systems by the cooperative installation, deployment, and use of precision, self-propelled linear move and center pivot irrigation systems. The linear move irrigation systems will be used to develop and test precision water and chemical application systems and to assess their use high value irrigated cropping production systems and their role in improving water and soil quality and ecologically-sound pest management practices and technologies. Specific objectives are: 1) to determine the relative crop yields under various cropping sequences and water use efficiency from two irrigation frequencies; 2) to monitor the effect of irrigated crop production on soil properties in the transition from dryland to irrigated conditions (characterize changes in soil properties, soil structure, microflora, microbes, OM, disease incidence and weed emergence [species]); 3) to test and evaluate precision self-propelled irrigation techniques and establish management criteria for sandy soils in the semi-arid NGP, and 4) to develop procedures for wireless sensor-based irrigation scheduling of precision self-propelled irrigation systems�tied to a computer, in combination with on-site weather data, remotely sensed data, and grower preferences. Approach (from AD-416) The Agricultural Systems Research Unit, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS and the NDSU Agricultural Experiment Station through the Williston Research Extension Center (14120 Hwy 2, Williston, ND 58801-8629 ) will cooperatively install, maintain and utilize lateral-move irrigation systems on the NDSU Nesson Valley Research Farm to jointly develop irrigated cropping systems research to provide innovative and credible solutions that enhance soil and water quality, conserve natural resources, and reduce producer�s dependence on agrochemicals. ARS will conduct the development of precision irrigation hardware/software and conduct irrigation and soil management aspects of the research and the North Dakota State University will conduct agronomic components of the research. The focus will be on assessing the environmental impacts of cultural practices and improved management of water, nutrient and chemical applications in irrigated cropping systems. This effort will be directed towards sugar beet, potato, and small grain crop sequences under self-propelled irrigation systems. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and North Dakota State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5436-13210-004-00D �Ecologically-Sound Pest, Water and Soil Management Strategies for Northern Great Plains Cropping Systems.� The project examines the interaction between irrigation frequency, crop rotations, and tillage on yields, pest problems and soil water movement. This effort is directed towards various sugar beet-spring grain-potato rotations. A self-propelled linear move system with site-specific irrigation capabilities is being utilized for these experiments. Neither irrigation application depths nor fertility levels are varied as treatments, and irrigation distributions are kept as uniform as possible using commercially available sprinkler equipment. Carryover effects of different rotations are important and need to be followed in the different tillage and irrigation treatments. Fertility amounts are not treatments during the study. This experiment examines the various sequences of a potato/sugar beet/barley rotations and the resulting benefits or drawbacks of each sequence. All phases of each rotation are present every year. NDSU provides water and land for the ARS research. 2007 was the third year (of 6) of an irrigation study at the NDSU Nesson Valley site. A precision PLC-based control system was installed in the fall 2004 on a linear move irrigation system to allow implementation of precision, variable application depths to 21 different 15 wide x 300 m long strips in 5 m increments. Project includes evaluations of the impact of tillage systems, irrigation management and crop rotations on soil physical and hydraulic properties. In collaboration with ARS-Sidney, Washington State University-Prosser and NDSU, a 2nd precision application system was installed, tested and used for the 2007 season on an NDSU linear move irrigation system. This machine is using a digital controller compared to a PLC based control system, otherwise the two systems are identical. ADODR monitoring activities to evaluate research progress included conference calls, meetings with the cooperator's personnel, and site visits to field plot locations.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06

Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Cooperative Agreement #58-5436-3-0304 between ARS and the North Dakota State University, Williston Agricultural Experiment Station. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 5436-1310-004- 00D Development of Ecologically-Sound Pest, Water and Soil Management Strategies for Northern Great Plains Cropping Systems. 2006 was the second year (of 6) of a unit irrigation study at the NDSU Nesson Valley site. A precision PLC-based control system was installed in the fall 2004 on a linear move irrigation system to allow implementation of variable frequency, variable application depths to a complex, multidisciplinary potato-sugarbeet-malt barley rotation trial. Project evaluates the impact of tillage systems, irrigation management and crop rotations on soil physical and hydraulic properties. Spatial and temporal dependency and distribution of soil physical characteristics are being investigated using several geostatistical tools, GIS mapping, time series analysis and classical statistics. Field experiments have been established to quantify soil compaction (penetration resistance) under various dryland and irrigated crop sequences, tillage and irrigation management systems to assess their interaction on soil physical and hydraulic properties as well as on yield and quality of sugarbeets, potatoes, and malt barley. A crop rotation and tillage study was established in the spring of 2005 under an ARS linear move irrigation system at the NDSU Nesson Valley, ND site. Grid and plot sampling has included CEC, pH, SOM, POM, total N, Total P, microbial biomass, soil fauna, bulk density and soil texture to obtain baseline data to characterize the soil. MESA (mid-elevation spray application) every 5 ft is used to apply water at two irrigation frequencies with six replications across 6 different crop sequences used by growers (potatoes/sugar beets/barley) in the area. The intent is to look at irrigation frequency interactions within common grower rotations/sequences. Carryover effects of different rotations are important and need to be followed as well as soil quality changes during the transition from dryland to irrigated production. Fertility amounts are not treatments during the study (over 6 years). This experiment examines the various sequences of a potato/sugar beet/barley rotations and the resulting benefits or drawbacks of each sequence. The six treatments/rotations represent the range of expected grower practices for the conversion from dryland to irrigated production on sandy soils in the NGP into a potato/sugar beet/barley cropping sequence. All phases of each rotation are present every year.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05

Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Cooperative Agreement #58-5436-3-0304 between ARS and the North Dakota State University, Williston Agricultural Experiment Station. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent CRIS 5436-1310-004- 00D Development of Ecologically-Sound Pest, Water and Soil Management Strategies for Northern Great Plains Cropping Systems. Baseline data of soil apparent electrical conductivity and cone index using Veris 3100 and Profiler 3000 were collected at the Nesson site in early spring to quantify soil spatial variability. Spatial and temporal dependency and distribution of soil physical characteristics are being investigated using several geostatistical tools, GIS mapping, time series analysis and classical statistics. Field experiments have been established to quantify soil compaction (penetration resistance) under various dryland and irrigated crop sequences, tillage and irrigation management systems to assess their interaction on soil physical and hydraulic properties as well as on yield and quality of sugarbeets, potatoes, and malt barley. Weed composition and density, weed seed bank as well as soil quality baselines were continued for the site. Initial soil sampling to 100 cm was completed and analyzed on a 61 m grid in 2003, and we have since followed this with addition samples by each plot.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04

Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? This report serves to document research conducted under an specific cooperative agreement between ARS and North Dakota State University Agricultural Experiment Center-Williston, ND. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5436-13210-003- 00D Development of Ecologically-sound Pest, Water and Soil Management Strategies for Northern Great Plains Cropping Systems. Installation of the irrigation water delivery system has been completed and tested. A large capacity well has been drilled and the pump installed and tested. The lake/river water system is ready to install but the lake levels are too low to use the pump station at this time so well water will be used for plots and testing. The ARS linear move irrigation system has been erected and final adjustments are being made so that research can commence spring 2005. Initial plot work will be done fall 2004.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications