Technologies for Irrigation Management Field Day Sept. 8
August 24, 2016
Nebraska Extension and MidPlains Ag are collaborating on a Technologies for Irrigation Management Field Day near Elgin on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Sprinkler Irrigation System Maintenance for Improved Uniformity and Application Efficiency
August 23, 2016
Center pivot irrigation systems are designed and managed to apply water as uniformly as possible to enhance crop production. Uniformity has a direct effect on the system’s overall application efficiency, which is a measure of how well an irrigation system delivers water to a crop’s root zone.
Field Day to Explore Systems Approach to Cropping and Irrigation Management
August 4, 2016
Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Water Balance Alliance will host a field day on the Systems Approach to Cropping and Irrigation Management Tuesday, August 23 at North Platte.
The West Central Water and Crops Field Day will be at the UNL West Central Research and Extension Center at 402 W. State Farm Road, starting with registration at 8 a.m. and presentations at 8:30 a.m.
Economics of Variable Frequency Drives for Irrigation Pumps
June 23, 2016
Dilshad Brar, a graduate student in the UNL Biological Systems Engineering Department, looked at 1000 center pivot installations in 10 Nebraska counties to determine if placing a variable frequency drive (VFD) on the system would be economical. He also looked at the best location for the VFD pressure sensor. Brar breaks it down to four common scenarios, outlining when it pays and when it doesn't.
Impacts of Extreme Heat Stress and Increased Soil Temperature on Plant Growth and Development
June 21, 2016
Both corn and soybean are susceptible to extreme heat (and water) stress during early vegetative stages as well as later critical growth stages (pollination for corn and flowering for soybean). Extreme heat stress can reduce plant photosynthetic and transpiration efficiencies and negatively impact plant root development, which collectively can negatively impact yield. The author recommends that during an extended heat wave (air temperature equal to or greater than 90 F for 7-10 days), applying 0.25-0.40 inch of water can be very beneficial.
New, Multi-Media Ag Water Management Guide
June 15, 2016
Nebraska Extension's new Agricultural Water Management Guide, an online, interactive resource, offers information, videos, and illustrations about various types of irrigation, their advantages and disadvantages, technologies and strategies.
Atmometer (ETgage) Installation Tips
May 26, 2016
ETgages estimate potential crop evapotransiration, allowing growers to track crop water use and apply irrigation more precisely when the crop can best use it. Learn about how to prepare and install ETgages and use the resulting data. Includes table of crop coefficients for corn, soybean, and wheat.
Irrigation Sensor Installation Tips
May 26, 2016
As planting progresses across the state, it is recommended that irrigators start installing water sensors in fields as time allows. Any time sensors are installed, a few simple questions should be addressed to ensure accurate readings for irrigation management later this season.
1) When should sensors be installed?