UNL CropWatch May 28, 2010: Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Demonstration Network (NAWMDN) Up
May 28, 2010
In most of Nebraska producers are finishing up with planting and haven’t started to think about this year’s irrigation. Most of the state has received more rainfall than the corn, soybean, and grain sorghum crops have used at this early growth stage. In most years things will change, but it is great to start out with a full soil profile of water — a little like having money in the bank.
|
So, even though we don’t need to think about irrigation management now, it is time to start planning. We now have nearly 500 producers across Nebraska who are involved in the Nebraska Agricultural Water Management Demonstration Network (NAWMDN). This effort began in 2005 with about 18 growers and has continued to grow with participants from across the state.
Two tools have been selected to help growers, crop consultants, and others make better irrigation management decisions.
The first tool is an ET gage® or Atmometer which along with crop growth stage can be used to estimate crop water use or evapotranspiration (ET).
The second is the Watermark soil matric potential sensor which can be used to measure available soil water in the soil profile. The sensors are glued into pvc pipe and, when the crop is small, placed in the crop row in the most representative area of the field. They have typically been installed at depths of 1, 2 and 3 feet. Hand-held meters as well as dataloggers can be used to obtain the readings.
The more information gathered, the more informed decisions that can be made for more effective irrigation management. The goal of the NAWMDN effort is to try and keep as much of the rainfall received on the farmland and to draw down the soil moisture profile, especially at the end of the season so that Mother Nature can refill it.
Many NAWMDN cooperators post the weekly total ETgage readings online. This information can then be used by other producers in the area who are actively engaged in irrigation management. New this year on the website will be the addition of data from several automatic weather stations that will be updated daily.
For more information about the NAWMDN contact one of the many Extension or NRD contacts involved in the effort and listed at http://water.unl.edu/cropswater/contact.
Gary Zoubek
Extension Educator, York County
Online Master of Science in Agronomy
With a focus on industry applications and research, the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for today's working professionals.
![A field of corn.](https://casnr.unl.edu/styles/unl_hero_large/public/images/hero/agronomy.jpg)