Subsurface Subsurface Drip Drip Irrigation for Irrigation for Row Crops Row Crops Chad Lee Chad Lee Extension Grain Crops Extension Grain Crops University of Kentucky University of Kentucky
Dec 24, 2015
Subsurface Subsurface Drip Irrigation Drip Irrigation for Row Crops for Row Crops
Chad LeeChad LeeExtension Grain CropsExtension Grain CropsUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky
Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Project SDI - TeamProject SDI - Team
InvestigatorsInvestigators
Scott Shearer Scott Shearer
Chad LeeChad Lee
Greg SchwabGreg Schwab
Mike CollinsMike Collins
Bob PearceBob Pearce
Mike MontrossMike Montross
Dennis HancockDennis Hancock
Key ContributorsKey Contributors
Mike PetersMike Peters
Bill PetersonBill Peterson
Steve HigginsSteve Higgins
John FultonJohn Fulton
Tracy HamiltonTracy Hamilton
James DollarhideJames Dollarhide
Rob PrewittRob Prewitt
BAE EngineersBAE Engineers
Subsurface Drip IrrigationSubsurface Drip Irrigation
Increased Efficiency
Ease of Use
Competitive Cost
Especially for smaller acreage
Low pressure
AdvantagesAdvantages
Subsurface Drip IrrigationSubsurface Drip Irrigation
Increased Efficiency
Ease of Use
Competitive Cost
Especially for smaller acreage
Low pressure
AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantages
StationaryStationary
Difficult/Laborious Difficult/Laborious InstallationInstallation
Tape SpecificationsTape Specifications
T-Tape (515-08-340)T-Tape (515-08-340) 15 mil thick, 15 mil thick, 4,100 ft/reel, 4,100 ft/reel, 8-10 psi8-10 psi 8” spacing, 8” spacing, 0.340 gpm/100ft0.340 gpm/100ft
Installation SpecificationsInstallation Specifications
Installation SpecificationsInstallation Specifications
InstallationInstallation
InstallationInstallation
InstallationInstallation
InstallationInstallation
InstallationInstallation
LocationLocation
University of Kentucky Animal Research Center, University of Kentucky Animal Research Center, Woodford CountyWoodford County
About 300 acres of corn grown for livestockAbout 300 acres of corn grown for livestock About 7.5 acres in SDI StudyAbout 7.5 acres in SDI Study Maury silt loam soilMaury silt loam soil
Crop RotationsCorn, Continuous Corn – SoybeanCorn – TobaccoTobacco – CornAlfalfa
SDI SDI Installation and Plot PreparationInstallation and Plot Preparation
Drip Tape Installed in AprilDrip Tape Installed in April Installer was pulled through rainfed Installer was pulled through rainfed
plots as wellplots as well Field was disked 3 timesField was disked 3 times Finished twiceFinished twice Will be no-till next yearWill be no-till next year
2003: SDI Questions2003: SDI Questions
Will subsurface drip irrigationWill subsurface drip irrigation
•Improve establishment?Improve establishment?
•Improve 2Improve 2ndnd cutting yields? cutting yields?
AlfalfaAlfalfa
Will subsurface drip irrigationWill subsurface drip irrigation
•Improve establishment?Improve establishment?
•Improve 2Improve 2ndnd cutting yields? cutting yields?
AlfalfaAlfalfa
2003: SDI Questions2003: SDI Questions
CornCorn
Will subsurface drip irrigationWill subsurface drip irrigation
•increase corn yields?increase corn yields?
•increase N requirements?increase N requirements?
SDI in AlfalfaSDI in Alfalfa
Just add waterJust add water
Approximately 4 inches of water was applied to Approximately 4 inches of water was applied to alfalfa from July through August.alfalfa from July through August.
MonthMonth Rain Rain (inches)(inches)
Average Average (inches)(inches)
Diff. Diff. (inches)(inches)
JuneJune 4.214.21 4.04.0 +.21+.21
JulyJuly 4.644.64 4.84.8 -.16-.16
AugustAugust 4.214.21 3.73.7 +.51+.51
TotalTotal 13.0613.06 12.712.7
2003: Alfalfa Results2003: Alfalfa Results
• Irrigated vs. Rainfed – (August 27, 2003)
− Second Cutting of Establishment Year
Yield (tons/acre)Yield (tons/acre)
IrrigatedIrrigated 1.241.24
RainfedRainfed 1.141.14
DifferenceDifference 0.100.10*
* P=0.08
2003: SDI in Corn 2003: SDI in Corn
Pioneer 31R88 (CRM 120)Pioneer 31R88 (CRM 120) 27,000 seeds/A27,000 seeds/A 5 gal of liquid 28% 5 gal of liquid 28% 5 gal 10-34-0 Starter5 gal 10-34-0 Starter
SDI in Corn: Weed ControlSDI in Corn: Weed Control
First Application (sprayed at V3)First Application (sprayed at V3)
SpiritSpirit 1 oz/a1 oz/a
BasagranBasagran 1.5 pt/a1.5 pt/a
COCCOC 1 % v/v1 % v/v
28 % N28 % N 1 qt/a1 qt/a
Second Application (spot sprayed at V5)Second Application (spot sprayed at V5)
ExceedExceed 1 oz1 oz
AccentAccent 0.33 oz0.33 oz
COCCOC 1 qt/a1 qt/a
Nitrogen ApplicationNitrogen Application
Sidedress N Sidedress N
(lbs N/acre)(lbs N/acre)
00
4040
8080
120120
160160
200200
240240
280280
320320
Just add waterJust add water
Approximately 4 inches of water was Approximately 4 inches of water was applied to corn from V6 to VTapplied to corn from V6 to VT
MonthMonth Rain Rain (inches)(inches)
Average Average (inches)(inches)
Diff. Diff. (inches)(inches)
JuneJune 4.214.21 4.04.0 +.21+.21
JulyJuly 4.644.64 4.84.8 -.16-.16
AugustAugust 4.214.21 3.73.7 +.51+.51
TotalTotal 13.0613.06 12.712.7
Corn YieldsCorn Yields(Averaged Across N Rates)(Averaged Across N Rates)
WaterWater Yield (Bu/A)Yield (Bu/A)
IrrigatedIrrigated 178178
RainfedRainfed 181181
nsns
N Effect on Corn YieldN Effect on Corn Yield
0
50
100
150
200
250
0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360
Sidedress N (lbs/A)
Yield (bu/a)
aa aa aaababababbbcc
dddd
N Use EfficiencyN Use Efficiency (lbs N recovered / lbs N applied)(lbs N recovered / lbs N applied)
0
1
2
3
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Sidedress N (lbs/A)
NUE
2003: SDI Lessons2003: SDI Lessons
•Establishment was improved Establishment was improved based on improved yields of based on improved yields of 22ndnd cutting hay. cutting hay.
•What will happen in a year What will happen in a year that is dry?that is dry?
AlfalfaAlfalfa
2003: SDI Lessons2003: SDI Lessons
•Establishment was improved Establishment was improved based on improved yields of based on improved yields of 22ndnd cutting hay. cutting hay.
•What will happen in a year What will happen in a year that is dry?that is dry?
AlfalfaAlfalfa CornCorn
Corn yields were not increased in a year when Corn yields were not increased in a year when water was adequate.water was adequate.
If water was needed, it would have been If water was needed, it would have been before installation was complete.before installation was complete.
Sidedress rate of 160 lbs N / acre was sufficient Sidedress rate of 160 lbs N / acre was sufficient for maximum yield in a wet year.for maximum yield in a wet year.
2004 Plans2004 Plans
No-Till (even tobacco)No-Till (even tobacco) Corn (2Corn (2ndnd year of continuous corn plots) year of continuous corn plots) Corn (following tobacco)Corn (following tobacco) Soybeans (following corn)Soybeans (following corn) Tobacco (following corn)Tobacco (following corn)
Alfalfa Future PlansAlfalfa Future Plans
• Yield
• K Fertility
• Taproot Reserves
• Remote Sensing
• Yield Monitor for Forages
Corn Future PlansCorn Future Plans
• Yield
• Nitrogen
• Population
• Hybrids
SDI: Future PlansSDI: Future Plans
• Economic analysis
• Increasing yields is great, but we need to be able to pay for it!!
After three of four years of research.
SDI WebsiteSDI Websitehttp://www.bae.uky.edu/precag/sdi/http://www.bae.uky.edu/precag/sdi/
Chad LeeChad [email protected]@uky.edu