Irrigation in South Carolina - National Water Program
Irrigation in South Carolina - National Water Program
Irrigation in South Carolina - National Water Program
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C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>a<br />
Hamid Farahani<br />
USDA-CSREES <strong>National</strong> <strong>Water</strong> Conference<br />
Feb 8-12, 2009, St. Louis, Missouri
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Clemson University<br />
Edisto Research &<br />
Education Center (Blackville)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
New <strong>Irrigation</strong> Faculty at Clemson<br />
75% research and 25% extension appo<strong>in</strong>tment<br />
Semi-arid and arid western USA, West Asia, and North Africa<br />
Develop and lead a strong research and extension program <strong>in</strong><br />
irrigation water and systems management <strong>in</strong> humid <strong>South</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>a
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Questions?<br />
What is the state of irrigation <strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>a?<br />
What are the irrigation needs?<br />
Who is who <strong>in</strong> irrigation research?<br />
Where is the <strong>in</strong>tegration/collaboration?<br />
What are the water managerial skills of SC irrigators?<br />
What is the level of extension expertise <strong>in</strong> irrigation?<br />
Where are the irrigation consultants?<br />
When is the next irrigation forum or workshop?<br />
Where are the crop coefficients, reference ET, and more?
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Rapid Appraisal<br />
• Ra<strong>in</strong>fed agriculture is the culture and the practice<br />
• Low familiarity with the science & eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g of irrigation<br />
• Irrigated agriculture has a low priority among water players<br />
• <strong>Irrigation</strong> literature & data is scarce<br />
• Few irrigation specialists at Fed and State agencies<br />
• Limited irrigation <strong>in</strong>formation resources or websites (crop water<br />
use, production function, Kc, schedul<strong>in</strong>g tools, etc…)<br />
• No state-wide agro-meteorology networks (ETo)<br />
• Limited irrigation workshops and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
US Networks of Agricultural Meteorological Stations
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
<strong>Water</strong> Issues:<br />
• <strong>Water</strong> availability - Drought, conflicts, quality degradation<br />
• <strong>Water</strong> withdrawal and permitt<strong>in</strong>g – Not known to many, but happen<strong>in</strong>g!<br />
• Increas<strong>in</strong>g irrigation systems – More pivots, drips, & wells<br />
• Go<strong>in</strong>g irrigated<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> Needs:<br />
In <strong>South</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>a, irrigators need up-to-date <strong>in</strong>formation and know-how as well<br />
as simple and practical methods and technologies to efficiently utilize the<br />
advantages of irrigation to rema<strong>in</strong> competitive.
<strong>South</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>a <strong>Water</strong> Resources
<strong>Water</strong>‐Resource Distribution<br />
PIEDMONT<br />
Surface water<br />
•1% of SC water is on surface<br />
•Lakes<br />
•Rivers<br />
COASTAL PLAIN<br />
Ground water<br />
• 99% of SC water is underground<br />
• Coastal Pla<strong>in</strong> aquifers (95%)<br />
•Bedrock fractures (5%)
Climate Change<br />
Streamflow Changes<br />
• 1.25‐degree <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>in</strong> 135 years<br />
• Increas<strong>in</strong>g ET and precipitation<br />
• As great as 20% precip <strong>in</strong>crease across S.C.<br />
s<strong>in</strong>ce 1900<br />
• Increas<strong>in</strong>g seasonal flow ranges<br />
• Higher probability of drought/flood
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Total Cropland Acreage (2008)<br />
(ra<strong>in</strong>fed & irrigated)<br />
Total land = 19.3 million acre<br />
Total cropland = 1.67 million acre (9%)<br />
Irrigated land = 0.17 million acre (10%)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> on a <strong>National</strong> Level<br />
• USDA-NASS - 2002 Census<br />
• New <strong>National</strong> <strong>Irrigation</strong> Survey – 12 January, 2009 (30k surveys)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Trend <strong>in</strong> Irrigated Acreage
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Irrigated Acreage by <strong>Irrigation</strong> System
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Irrigated Acreage by <strong>Irrigation</strong> Type (%)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Irrigated Acreage by Crop (%)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Power Source for Pump<strong>in</strong>g (%)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Yearly <strong>Water</strong> Use <strong>in</strong> the State (million gals)<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> of cropland and golf courses are consumptive (ET)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Crop irrigation:<br />
Golf Course irrigation:<br />
42% Groundwater<br />
58% Surface water<br />
28% Groundwater<br />
72% Surface water
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Where do these numbers come from?<br />
No meter<br />
SC <strong>Water</strong> Use Report<strong>in</strong>g Act of 1982 - Withdrawals of 100,000 gal/day or more.<br />
Center pivot at 700 gal/m<strong>in</strong>, will pump just over a million gallons <strong>in</strong> a day.<br />
Capacity Use Areas – Permitt<strong>in</strong>g and report<strong>in</strong>g is required.
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC
Dom<strong>in</strong>ant system –Center Pivot Spr<strong>in</strong>kler <strong>Irrigation</strong>
Pivot<br />
Pump station<br />
Two supply l<strong>in</strong>es<br />
Electric Power (S<strong>in</strong>gle‐phase,<br />
phase converters)
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Where do these numbers come from?
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Cotton<br />
Corn
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Need for<br />
irrigation <strong>in</strong><br />
normal year<br />
<strong>in</strong>ch<br />
25<br />
20<br />
Crop<br />
water<br />
use<br />
Efficiency<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong><br />
14”<br />
Ra<strong>in</strong>fall<br />
15<br />
Canopy <strong>in</strong>terception = ¼<strong>in</strong>ch<br />
(small ra<strong>in</strong>s are not effective)<br />
10<br />
5<br />
Effective<br />
ra<strong>in</strong>fall<br />
0
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Probability to get 2” <strong>in</strong> 7 and 14 days<br />
Good luck!<br />
14 days<br />
50%<br />
7 days<br />
15%
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> Schedul<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> schedul<strong>in</strong>g is the use of water management strategies to<br />
prevent over-application while m<strong>in</strong>imiz<strong>in</strong>g yield loss due to stress<br />
• When to irrigate?<br />
• How Much to irrigate?<br />
• Where to irrigate?<br />
- Crop or soil-based<br />
– Soil-based<br />
– Precision or site-specific application
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> Schedul<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Arid & Humid Areas<br />
• <strong>Irrigation</strong> <strong>in</strong> Arid Environment - Limited to no ra<strong>in</strong>fall<br />
‣ Strategic Schedul<strong>in</strong>g (regular <strong>in</strong>tervals and <strong>in</strong> rout<strong>in</strong>e amounts)<br />
• <strong>Irrigation</strong> <strong>in</strong> Humid Environment - Ra<strong>in</strong>fall plentiful, but unpredictable<br />
‣ Tactical Schedul<strong>in</strong>g (near or real-time)<br />
Take Home Message:<br />
<strong>Irrigation</strong> at regular <strong>in</strong>tervals is doomed<br />
to waste water, energy, and <strong>in</strong>puts<br />
(a common practice <strong>in</strong> <strong>South</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>a).
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Knowledge of soil, plant, and the atmosphere<br />
Soil Moisture<br />
The outcome is a change <strong>in</strong> soil water (Soil-based schedul<strong>in</strong>g)
A typical Coastal Pla<strong>in</strong> soil profile<br />
Sandy layer<br />
Hardpan<br />
Clay layer<br />
Field Capacity = 10%<br />
Wilt<strong>in</strong>g Po<strong>in</strong>t = 6%<br />
= 1.2 <strong>in</strong>ches of water per foot<br />
= 0.72 <strong>in</strong>ches of water per foot<br />
Plant Available <strong>Water</strong> = 0.48 <strong>in</strong>ches of water per foot
Multisensor Capacitance Probes<br />
Sentek<br />
AquaSpy
Direct Method
Slurry Method
Affordable sensors
Soil Surface<br />
<strong>Water</strong>mark Sensors
Manual read<strong>in</strong>g
Practical Utility of Wireless Access & Web‐based Presentation<br />
Outreach opportunities –Extension and consultants
Towards Remote Access & Web‐based Presentation<br />
Soil Moisture<br />
Sensor<br />
Manual Data Collection<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g a Handheld Meter<br />
Manual Data Download<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g a Laptop<br />
Wireless Sensors<br />
Module<br />
43
C L E M S O N U N I V E R S I T Y<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
Initiatives <strong>in</strong> <strong>Irrigation</strong> Research and Outreach<br />
– State-wide survey (basel<strong>in</strong>e data on irrigation and water use)<br />
– SC <strong>Irrigation</strong> Society – Forum & tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />
– Development of crop water use, Kc, and production functions<br />
– <strong>Irrigation</strong> Information Resources<br />
– Mobile <strong>Irrigation</strong> Lab (NRCS)<br />
– SCAgMet – <strong>South</strong> Carol<strong>in</strong>a Agricultural Meteorology Network
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY<br />
Department of Agricultural & Biological Eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Edisto Research & Education Center, Blackville, SC<br />
hfaraha@clemson.edu
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