Subsurface drip irrigation for alfalfa in Kansas
Date
2001-02
Authors
Alam, Mahbub, author
Trooien, Todd, author
Stone, Steven, author
Rogers, Danny, author
Journal Title
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Abstract
The result from a two year field study on suitability of using subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for Alfalfa provided some answers to alfalfa producers of Kansas. The study was set-up in a producer field for demonstration. The soil belongs to Otero-Ulysses complex and sandy loam in texture. The treatments included placement of drip tapes at (a) 1.5 M spacing at 0.46 and 0.30 M depth of placement, (b) 1.0 M spacing at 0.46 and 0.30 M depth, (c) 0.76 M spacing at 0.46 depth, and (d) a center pivot sprinkler irrigated plot seeded to alfalfa. Emergence of seedlings was adversely affected at 1.5 M spacing of drip tapes showing 'striping'. The total yield was reduced for spacing of drip tapes at 1.5 M in both 1999 and 2000. The depth of placement of the drip tapes (0.46 and 0.30 meters) showed no effect on yields.
Description
Presented at the Central Plains irrigation short course and exposition on February 5-6, 2001 at the Holiday Inn in Kearney, Nebraska.