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Perry, Calvin D.
Stripling Irrigation Research Park: Helping Georgia Farmers Irrigate Efficiently
Summary
The C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park (SIRP) is a state-of-the-art irrigation research and education center providing an easily accessible facility to assist farmers in managing irrigation and the general public in understanding the role of water in the economy of the region. Scientists, engineers, extension specialists, and staff collaborate to define crop water needs, improve food, feed and fiber production under irrigation, and find more efficient ways to apply irrigation water. The facility offers exceptional education and demonstration opportunities for farmers and irrigation companies. Research projects at SIRP are at capacity of the available staff to accomplish. There is much anecdotal evidence that educational and research activities at SIRP are making an impact on the area's farmers.
Situation
In all parts of the U.S., agriculture is putting increased demands on limited water resources. Yet, in our rural and farm communities, efficient water use is critical for sustainable economic development. Many states are currently developing management plans for water use within and between states. In the nation's irrigated agricultural regions, ag water use is often estimated at 50% of total water consumed. Nationwide, there are over 150,000 center pivot (CP) irrigation systems, watering over 21 million acres of cropland. In Georgia, the 2008 Extension irrigation survey of county agents showed that there were over 13,000 center pivot systems, watering about 1.5 million acres. Recent expansion of irrigation hardware will put that number much higher. However, recent drought periods and lawsuits between states have prompted a renewed interest in water conservation methods. In addition, the recently announced suspension of ag water permit applications in the Flint Basin has heightened the awareness of the need for conservation. The Coastal Plain of Georgia historically receives in excess of 50 inches of precipitation per year. For much of the 20th century, precipitation patterns during the April - October growing season allowed farmers to achieve good yields without supplemental irrigation. But, changing precipitation patterns and the increasing frequency of agricultural drought resulted in a rapid expansion of center pivot irrigation during the final three decades of the century. For example, at the Stripling Park, the rainfall total was just over 31 inches through November 2012. The highest concentration of center pivot irrigation in Georgia occurs in the lower Flint River basin (LFRB) where the Floridan aquifer ranges from less than 10 m to 30 m below the soil surface and the landscape is dotted by lime sinks and springs. The karst geology of the aquifer makes it highly productive with a 6 inch well capable of yielding 400 gal/min. Farmers are being encouraged to improve irrigation application efficiencies and water use efficiency. Producers are increasing their irrigation management effort to save on pumping costs and water use while insuring high yields and quality. Producers are also interested in objective irrigation management tools to create continuity in irrigation strategies from field to field and year to year.
Response
SIRP hosted research projects from many different disciplines in 2012, including: • Evaluating response of new cotton varieties to irrigation timing / scheduling using methods such as check-book, soil moisture sensors, crop coefficient, etc. • Continued evaluation of subsurface drip irrigation in a corn-cotton-peanut rotation • Evaluating irrigation scheduling methods for sweet corn and field corn production • Testing interaction of cotton and peanut plant nutrient application and irrigation • Plastic mulch effects on thrip movement and disease in drip irrigated tomatoes • Evaluating “late” field corn response to irrigation (corn as 2nd crop in double-cropping) • Evaluating corn response to nematicide products under irrigated conditions in conservation and conventional tillage environments The Georgia Peanut Tour spent several hours at Stripling Park in September and over 100 attendees learned about the research projects taking place at SIRP from the scientists involved. To reach students in the area to educate them on the importance of water and irrigation to the region, SIRP again joined the Mitchell County 4-H as well as the Flint RiverQuarium to conduct a 3 day summer camp, "4H2O Camp". Over 120 students plus numerous advisors spent a full day at SIRP learning about water, irrigation, ecosystems, ag careers, etc. SIRP continued its cooperative work with the Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District by taking a more active role in the Flint River Basin Program. This program is a partnership of the Flint River Soil & Water Conservation District, USDA-NRCS, and The Nature Conservancy whose goal is to help farmers in the Lower Flint River Basin identify ways to conserve water and install cutting-edge irrigation technology. Recently, IBM has become an active partner in the conservation efforts. SIRP hosted numerous other meetings and workshops by industry groups, government agencies, and other groups working on ag irrigation in some manner.
Impact
SIRP is arguably the premier irrigation research and education facility in the eastern US. There is much anecdotal evidence that educational and research activities at SIRP are making an impact on the area's farmers as they are becoming more receptive to opportunities to improve their irrigation systems and methods. Extramural funding for projects at SIRP continued strong in 2012. The main commodity commissions (corn, cotton, vegetable and peanut) have funded projects being conducted at the facility. SIRP's partnership with the Flint River Basin Program has assisted with the Program obtaining over $10 million from the USDA-NRCS AWEP program for cost-sharing irrigation efficiency / conservation enhancements including lower pressure drop nozzles, remote soil moisture monitoring, and variable-rate irrigation systems (VRI). The Park and its scientists are working with the Flint River Basin Program to deploy Variable-Rate Irrigation systems (VRI) - by 2013 the effort will have installed over 130 VRI systems for a total water savings of about 650 M gallons (or 2 acre-inches) per season.
State Issue
Agricultural Profitability and Sustainability
Details
- Year: 2012
- Geographic Scope: Multi-State/Regional
- County: Mitchell
- Unit, Department, or Group: C.M. Stripling Irrigation Research Park
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Program Areas:
- Agriculture & Natural Resources
Author
Collaborator(s)
CAES Collaborator(s)
- Beasley, John P.
- Collins, Guy D
- Culpepper, Stanley
- Harris, Glendon H.
- Kemerait, Robert C
- Langston, David B.
- Lee, R. Dewey
- Roberts, Phillip Marion
- Snider, John L
- Sparks, Alton N
- Tubbs, Ronald Scott
- Vellidis, George
Research Impact