Suat Irmak – Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

Former Harold W. Eberhard Distinguished Professor of Biological Systems Engineering, UNLSuat Irmak
Corn field under center pivot
A water-saving strategy, deficit irrigation represents an important concept in managing water use through irrigation as groundwater depletion rises across the U.S.

The Economics of Deficit Irrigation Utilizing Soil Moisture Probes

December 15, 2023
Cornhusker Economics experts examine the financial impact on producers using a deficit irrigation strategy in corn.

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Palmer amaranth in soybeans

What Do We Know About Water Use of Weeds?

June 14, 2023
In an effort to estimate the cost of weeds to agriculture and the overall economics of weed management, researchers recently analyzed numerous scientific studies on the water use of 34 weed species found across the world.

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Palmer in corn
Palmer amaranth invades a corn field in south-central Nebraska. (CropWatch file photo by Amit Jhala)

Effect of Drought on Weeds: Results of Global Meta-analysis

June 13, 2023
Researchers examined more than 1,000 studies to compile a comprehensive report on weed germination, growth and seed production during periods of water stress.

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Velvetleaf

Control of Velvetleaf with Post-emergence Herbicides in Popcorn

August 12, 2021
Results of a study evaluating the efficacy and crop safety of labeled post-emergence herbicides to control velvetleaf, a major agricultural weed in Nebraska that reduces yields in popcorn if not controlled.

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Field trial with one of the herbicides tested in popcorn

Weed Control and Response of Yellow and White Popcorn Hybrids to Herbicides

September 25, 2019
Research-based information on weed control and response of eight commercially available popcorn hybrids to several herbicides labeled for popcorn in Nebraska.

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Popcorn at V9 growth stage where PRE herbicide had been applied

Pre-emergence Herbicide Delays the Critical Time of Weed Removal in Nebraska Popcorn

September 9, 2019
Understanding the critical time of weed removal (CTWR) and how a pre-emergence herbicide application can shift it is helpful for designing the most efficient weed management program in popcorn.

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Figure 1. Corn in one of the irrigation research plots at the South Central Agricultural Lab was starting to show signs of stress Wednesday.
Figure 1. Corn in one of the irrigation research plots at the South Central Agricultural Lab was starting to show signs of stress Wednesday.

Soil Water Content- and Soil Matric Potential-Based Irrigation Trigger Values for Different Soil Types

July 11, 2019
Keeping a close eye on soil water content in individual fields can help optimize irrigation efficiency. This article explores how to use research-based trigger points for various soil types using soil water content-based sensors or soil matric potential-based sensors. Nebraska research has shown that having 25% more water than needed in the maize root-zone reduced grain yields as much as 15 bu/ac.

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Chart of nitro use efficiency and partial profits

Profit and Nitrogen Use Efficiency Gain Using Sensor-Guided Fertigation

January 9, 2019
A UNL study of sensor-based and model-informed fertigation treatments confirms that sensor fertigation treatments are consistently the most profitable and efficient methods of applying N compared to current best management practices (BMPs).

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