Crystal Powers - Water and Cropping Systems Extension Educator, Nebraska Water Center

Crystal Powers

faculty
Work
NIC 3220 Lincoln NE 68588-6204
US
Work 402-472-9549 On campus, dial 2-9549
As the Research and Extension Communication Specialist through the Nebraska Water Center, my role is to be an open channel of communication with research and extension faculty throughout Nebraska’s higher education system. I would like it to be a two way path: what can learn from each other and how we can best collaborate for larger impact. I come from working as an Extension Engineer in the Department of Biological Systems Engineering at UNL. There I worked with faculty on improving air and water quality in livestock systems, primarily through extension programming, and also some teaching and research. I have a M.S. in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University and a B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from UNL.

icon-academic-capEducation

  • BS, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2005
  • MS, Cornell University, 2007
Pivot in field
Irrigating a late season soybean field. (Photo by Steve Melvin)

Optimize Those Last Few Irrigations

August 17, 2023
Leaving the field a little drier at the end of the season can help producers save irrigation costs, decrease leaching losses, improve soil conditions for harvest traffic, save water for future years and capture more off-season precipitation.

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Pivot irrigation system
When irrigating fields early due to drought, the most reliable method to know when and how much to irrigate is to monitor soil moisture at multiple depths.

Early Season Irrigation During Drought

June 7, 2023
For producers who are irrigating early this year due to drought, it's critical to monitor soil moisture to balance crop needs with the risk of losing nitrogen and other valuable crop inputs, while also avoiding the expense of over-irrigating. 

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Irrigation system in corn
Producers looking to take advantage of nitrate-nitrogen in groundwater to reduce nitrogen applications this growing season may want to test their wells to determine current levels. Information on testing requirements is available at all local NRD offices.

Don’t Lose Out on Free Nitrogen from Irrigation Water

April 20, 2023
Extension recommendations for calculating the amount of nitrate-nitrogen in irrigation water and optimal timing of applications to reduce the cost of nitrogen inputs in irrigated corn.

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Husker Harvest Days 2021
Nebraska Extension educators and specialists chat with attendees during the 2021 Husker Harvest Days.

Nebraska Extension Looking Forward to Meeting You at Husker Harvest Days 2023

August 31, 2023
Nebraska Extension educators and specialists will be sharing insights and research on a wide variety of ag topics with attendees during the 2023 Husker Harvest Days.

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