2021
Promoting Irrigation Water Management for Soybeans
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Contributor/Checkoff:
Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
Category:
Sustainable Production
Keywords:
Abiotic stressField management SustainabilityWater supply
Parent Project:
Promoting irrigation water management for soybeans
Lead Principal Investigator:
Chris Henry, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Co-Principal Investigators:
Leo Espinoza Guzman, University of Arkansas
Paul Francis, University of Arkansas
Terry Spurlock, University of Arkansas
+2 More
Project Code:
Contributing Organization (Checkoff):
Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board
$150,000
Institution Funded:
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
$150,000
Brief Project Summary:
For farmers with fields under irrigation, water is another input to manage carefully. To make sound decisions, farmers need relevant tools and information, which this project provides. Soybean farmers can make the biggest gains in profitability and sustainability by improving when they first start irrigating a field and when to stop. Technology makes those decisions easier. A sap flow monitor measures water moving through soybean stems and provides data on specific water needs at each growth stage. This research has gathered an enormous dataset on soybean water use.
Key Beneficiaries:
#agronomists, #Extension agents, #farmers
Unique Keywords:
#irrigation, #water quality & management
Information And Results
Project Summary

GOAL: Demonstration and technology transfer of irrigation water management practices on grower fields. Compare yield and water use differences to document the efficacy and improved profitability of conservation practices. Develop recommendations for surge irrigation and soil moisture sensors. Disseminate information to growers, consultants, and end users through U of A Extension meetings and workshops.

Project Objectives

GOAL: Demonstration and technology transfer of irrigation water management practices on grower fields. Compare yield and water use differences to document the efficacy and improved profitability of conservation practices. Develop recommendations for surge irrigation and soil moisture sensors. Disseminate information to growers, consultants, and end users through U of A Extension meetings and workshops.

Project Deliverables

Progress Of Work

Final Project Results

Benefit To Soybean Farmers

VALUE TO SOYBEAN INDUSTRY: To date, 122 participants have attended the surge school and 149 attended the soil moisture schools for a total of 840 contact hours. Surge irrigation respondents reported moderate to substantial learning (99%) in hands-on exercises. In the soil moisture sensor schools, 87% reported moderate to substantial learning on how to assemble and install soil moisture sensors. Over 180 irrigators are using this app to interpret soil moisture sensor readings. The sap flow component of this project is providing key data that is being used to provide better termination
recommendations for soybeans. Poly printer has been developed to aid implementation of Computerized Hole Selection.

The United Soybean Research Retention policy will display final reports with the project once completed but working files will be purged after three years. And financial information after seven years. All pertinent information is in the final report or if you want more information, please contact the project lead at your state soybean organization or principal investigator listed on the project.