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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #278017
Title: Water management tools for Mississippi

Author
item SCHMIDT, A - Mississippi State University
item Sassenrath, Gretchen
item CRUMPTON, J - Mississippi State University
item RICE, B - Mississippi State University
item SCHNEIDER, J - Mississippi State University

Submitted to: Mississippi State University Extension Service
Publication Type: Other
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2012
Publication Date: 2/27/2012
Citation: Schmidt, A.M., Sassenrath, G.F., Crumpton, J., Rice, B., Schneider, J. 2012. Water management tools for Mississippi. Mississippi State University Extension Service. 1:1.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Our goal is to equip crop producers in the Southeast with tools to improve crop production and management including: • Knowledge of crop and soil water relations • Irrigation scheduling tools for better water management, and • Economic benefits of water conservation technologies Crop performance can be improved by managing water based on crop needs. Knowing when to irrigate and how much water to apply are collectively known as “irrigation scheduling.” Research at Mississippi State University has identified irrigation management as a critical component needed to enhance corn yields. Depending on the region and cultivar, average yield for irrigated corn can be 2.3 times that of rain-fed corn. Likewise, research by the USDA-ARS and Mississippi State University reveals a nearly 50% loss of yield for soybeans grown under rain-fed production, depending on planting date. To learn more about how soil, water and plants interact, information is presented on: soil, water and plant terms used in irrigation scheduling; the many types of soil water; the relationship between soil and water; irrigation scheduling; measuring plant water use; measuring soil water; estimating ET from weather parameters; irrigation systems; and checking irrigation system performance. In addition to these educational tools, the website supports the Mississippi Irrigation Scheduling Tool (MIST), an online irrigation scheduler for row crop production in Mississippi.