More Crop for the Drop

Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District (PGCD) is excited to introduce a new cooperator program, More Crop for the Drop, this spring that will research a new way to conserve water when irrigating. More Crop for the Drop will use innovative soil moisture sensing technology. Measuring soil moisture is important in agriculture to help farmers manage their irrigation systems more efficiently, which in turn will help to save water. Producers in our District are constantly looking for better ways to manage their resources, and this program will not only lend a hand in water conservation, but also help to increase yields and the quality of the crop by better management of soil moisture during critical plant growth stages.

Irrigation Engineer Leon New will be working closely with producers to grow corn and cotton on reduced irrigation guided by soil moisture sensor technology.   Probes are placed to a depth of 60 inches with 15 sensors in each probe.  The telemetry is then sent via cellular technology and viewed on the internet. The readings will be used to monitor water in the profile at various stages of plant development.  Stressing plants at the right time can aid root growth.  Also, once crops are established, soil moisture sensors help ensure that they are receiving timely irrigation.  Soil moisture technology allows producers to better manage time, fuel, fertilizer and water.  In addition, it aids in avoiding what many growers refer to as a water penalty which occurs when too much water is given to a plant at the wrong time resulting in lost production. 

Cooperating producers are being asked to set a goal of only 15 inches per acre for corn and eight inches per acre for cotton.  These irrigation reduction allotments will be used on sample plots throughout the district.  By spreading out the data collection, we hope to better investigate how soil moisture sensor technology influences production capabilities in areas with varied soil characteristics, rainfall and groundwater production rates.  

 PGCD looks forward to working with our cooperators on this trial.  Watch future newsletters for the results of this and other district programs.