Location: Water Quality and Ecology Research
Project Number: 6060-13660-008-007-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 30, 2015
End Date: Apr 29, 2020
Objective:
This cooperative research project will assess the integration of conservation and irrigation scheduling technologies to protect and enhance soil and water resources while addressing critical water needs of crop production under variable and adverse climate conditions and declining Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer levels.
Approach:
Research plots are established at or near the Delta Branch Experiment Station to quantify the contribution of various conservation practices toward sustaining soil and water resources and productivity with respect to row crop production. Soil moisture sensors and irrigation equipment are installed to monitor and supply water needs of the crop. Conservation practices potentially include various conservation tillage and cover crops. Crop yield and management inputs are quantified to obtain an economic analysis of the irrigation production system.
