Project Number: 6657-13000-009-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Dec 29, 2011
End Date: Dec 28, 2016

Objective:
1. Develop and test tools to build site-specific water and nutrient prescriptions that conserve water, protect the environment, and increase productivity. 1a. Develop water management strategies to optimize spatial water and nutrient applications. 1b. Develop and compare management zones for site-specific irrigation management using NRCS soil maps, detailed soil maps, soil electrical conductivity (EC), and historical yield maps. 1c. Determine the potential role of irrigation in production of alternative crops in the humid Southeast. 2. Develop cropping systems for improving water use efficiency and productivity. 2a. Assess the impact of tillage on soil water status along with plant growth and development. 3. Develop practices and technologies that enhance denitrification with minimized nitrous oxide emissions in water table managed fields and wetlands.

Approach:
This 5-year project utilizes a systems approach to identify and develop strategies for improved water and nutrient management in humid regions. The project includes both irrigated and rainfed productions systems. In irrigation management, (objective 1), the project will focus on developing tools and identifying strategies for a) managing site-specific irrigation systems to conserve water and nutrients, and b) protecting the environment while maintaining cost effective production. In rainfed water management (objective 2), the project will focus on developing and enhancing tillage management systems that improve water use efficiency and increase productivity. In nutrient management, the project will focus on both in-field and off-site management. In-field nutrient management (objective 1) will focus on evaluating nitrogen applications on two soils under a site-specific irrigation system to improve nutrient management and to decrease the potential for off-site nitrogen movement. Off-site nitrogen management (objective 3) will focus on understanding the spatial variability of nitrous oxide emissions from riparian buffers and wetlands.