Subsurface Subsurface Drip Irrigation Drip Irrigation for Row Crops for Row Crops

Chad LeeChad LeeExtension Grain CropsExtension Grain CropsUniversity of KentuckyUniversity of Kentucky

Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering

Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering

Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering

Agronomy Agronomy AgronomyBiosystems & Agricultural Engineering

Project SDI - TeamProject SDI - Team

InvestigatorsInvestigators

Scott Shearer Scott Shearer

Chad LeeChad Lee

Greg SchwabGreg Schwab

Mike CollinsMike Collins

Bob PearceBob Pearce

Mike MontrossMike Montross

Dennis HancockDennis Hancock

Key ContributorsKey Contributors

Mike PetersMike Peters

Bill PetersonBill Peterson

Steve HigginsSteve Higgins

John FultonJohn Fulton

Tracy HamiltonTracy Hamilton

James DollarhideJames Dollarhide

Rob PrewittRob Prewitt

BAE EngineersBAE Engineers

Subsurface Drip IrrigationSubsurface Drip Irrigation

Increased Efficiency

Ease of Use

Competitive Cost

Especially for smaller acreage

Low pressure

AdvantagesAdvantages

Subsurface Drip IrrigationSubsurface Drip Irrigation

Increased Efficiency

Ease of Use

Competitive Cost

Especially for smaller acreage

Low pressure

AdvantagesAdvantages DisadvantagesDisadvantages

StationaryStationary

Difficult/Laborious Difficult/Laborious InstallationInstallation

Tape SpecificationsTape Specifications

T-Tape (515-08-340)T-Tape (515-08-340) 15 mil thick, 15 mil thick, 4,100 ft/reel, 4,100 ft/reel, 8-10 psi8-10 psi 8” spacing, 8” spacing, 0.340 gpm/100ft0.340 gpm/100ft

Installation SpecificationsInstallation Specifications

Installation SpecificationsInstallation Specifications

InstallationInstallation

InstallationInstallation

InstallationInstallation

InstallationInstallation

InstallationInstallation

LocationLocation

University of Kentucky Animal Research Center, University of Kentucky Animal Research Center, Woodford CountyWoodford County

About 300 acres of corn grown for livestockAbout 300 acres of corn grown for livestock About 7.5 acres in SDI StudyAbout 7.5 acres in SDI Study Maury silt loam soilMaury silt loam soil

Crop RotationsCorn, Continuous Corn – SoybeanCorn – TobaccoTobacco – CornAlfalfa

SDI SDI Installation and Plot PreparationInstallation and Plot Preparation

Drip Tape Installed in AprilDrip Tape Installed in April Installer was pulled through rainfed Installer was pulled through rainfed

plots as wellplots as well Field was disked 3 timesField was disked 3 times Finished twiceFinished twice Will be no-till next yearWill be no-till next year

2003: SDI Questions2003: SDI Questions

Will subsurface drip irrigationWill subsurface drip irrigation

•Improve establishment?Improve establishment?

•Improve 2Improve 2ndnd cutting yields? cutting yields?

AlfalfaAlfalfa

Will subsurface drip irrigationWill subsurface drip irrigation

•Improve establishment?Improve establishment?

•Improve 2Improve 2ndnd cutting yields? cutting yields?

AlfalfaAlfalfa

2003: SDI Questions2003: SDI Questions

CornCorn

Will subsurface drip irrigationWill subsurface drip irrigation

•increase corn yields?increase corn yields?

•increase N requirements?increase N requirements?

SDI in AlfalfaSDI in Alfalfa

Just add waterJust add water

Approximately 4 inches of water was applied to Approximately 4 inches of water was applied to alfalfa from July through August.alfalfa from July through August.

MonthMonth Rain Rain (inches)(inches)

Average Average (inches)(inches)

Diff. Diff. (inches)(inches)

JuneJune 4.214.21 4.04.0 +.21+.21

JulyJuly 4.644.64 4.84.8 -.16-.16

AugustAugust 4.214.21 3.73.7 +.51+.51

TotalTotal 13.0613.06 12.712.7

2003: Alfalfa Results2003: Alfalfa Results

• Irrigated vs. Rainfed – (August 27, 2003)

− Second Cutting of Establishment Year

Yield (tons/acre)Yield (tons/acre)

IrrigatedIrrigated 1.241.24

RainfedRainfed 1.141.14

DifferenceDifference 0.100.10*

* P=0.08

2003: SDI in Corn 2003: SDI in Corn

Pioneer 31R88 (CRM 120)Pioneer 31R88 (CRM 120) 27,000 seeds/A27,000 seeds/A 5 gal of liquid 28% 5 gal of liquid 28% 5 gal 10-34-0 Starter5 gal 10-34-0 Starter

SDI in Corn: Weed ControlSDI in Corn: Weed Control

First Application (sprayed at V3)First Application (sprayed at V3)

SpiritSpirit 1 oz/a1 oz/a

BasagranBasagran 1.5 pt/a1.5 pt/a

COCCOC 1 % v/v1 % v/v

28 % N28 % N 1 qt/a1 qt/a

Second Application (spot sprayed at V5)Second Application (spot sprayed at V5)

ExceedExceed 1 oz1 oz

AccentAccent 0.33 oz0.33 oz

COCCOC 1 qt/a1 qt/a

Nitrogen ApplicationNitrogen Application

Sidedress N Sidedress N

(lbs N/acre)(lbs N/acre)

00

4040

8080

120120

160160

200200

240240

280280

320320

Just add waterJust add water

Approximately 4 inches of water was Approximately 4 inches of water was applied to corn from V6 to VTapplied to corn from V6 to VT

MonthMonth Rain Rain (inches)(inches)

Average Average (inches)(inches)

Diff. Diff. (inches)(inches)

JuneJune 4.214.21 4.04.0 +.21+.21

JulyJuly 4.644.64 4.84.8 -.16-.16

AugustAugust 4.214.21 3.73.7 +.51+.51

TotalTotal 13.0613.06 12.712.7

Corn YieldsCorn Yields(Averaged Across N Rates)(Averaged Across N Rates)

WaterWater Yield (Bu/A)Yield (Bu/A)

IrrigatedIrrigated 178178

RainfedRainfed 181181

nsns

N Effect on Corn YieldN Effect on Corn Yield

0

50

100

150

200

250

0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 360

Sidedress N (lbs/A)

Yield (bu/a)

aa aa aaababababbbcc

dddd

N Use EfficiencyN Use Efficiency (lbs N recovered / lbs N applied)(lbs N recovered / lbs N applied)

0

1

2

3

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Sidedress N (lbs/A)

NUE

2003: SDI Lessons2003: SDI Lessons

•Establishment was improved Establishment was improved based on improved yields of based on improved yields of 22ndnd cutting hay. cutting hay.

•What will happen in a year What will happen in a year that is dry?that is dry?

AlfalfaAlfalfa

2003: SDI Lessons2003: SDI Lessons

•Establishment was improved Establishment was improved based on improved yields of based on improved yields of 22ndnd cutting hay. cutting hay.

•What will happen in a year What will happen in a year that is dry?that is dry?

AlfalfaAlfalfa CornCorn

Corn yields were not increased in a year when Corn yields were not increased in a year when water was adequate.water was adequate.

If water was needed, it would have been If water was needed, it would have been before installation was complete.before installation was complete.

Sidedress rate of 160 lbs N / acre was sufficient Sidedress rate of 160 lbs N / acre was sufficient for maximum yield in a wet year.for maximum yield in a wet year.

2004 Plans2004 Plans

No-Till (even tobacco)No-Till (even tobacco) Corn (2Corn (2ndnd year of continuous corn plots) year of continuous corn plots) Corn (following tobacco)Corn (following tobacco) Soybeans (following corn)Soybeans (following corn) Tobacco (following corn)Tobacco (following corn)

Alfalfa Future PlansAlfalfa Future Plans

• Yield

• K Fertility

• Taproot Reserves

• Remote Sensing

• Yield Monitor for Forages

Corn Future PlansCorn Future Plans

• Yield

• Nitrogen

• Population

• Hybrids

SDI: Future PlansSDI: Future Plans

• Economic analysis

• Increasing yields is great, but we need to be able to pay for it!!

After three of four years of research.

SDI WebsiteSDI Websitehttp://www.bae.uky.edu/precag/sdi/http://www.bae.uky.edu/precag/sdi/

Chad LeeChad Lee859.257.3203859.257.3203cdlee2@uky.educdlee2@uky.edu