WERA202: Climatic Data Application in Irrigation Scheduling and Water Conservation
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA202: Climatic Data Application in Irrigation Scheduling and Water Conservation
Duration: 10/01/2005 to 09/30/2010
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Although the need for multistate coordination of irrigation water resources has always existed, recent droughts and a boom in the population of many western states has made this coordination even more imperative. Although agricultural acreage in many areas is on the decline, agriculture is still the major user of water in many states. In the West, it is estimated that 90% of the freshwater drawn from well and surface sources is for agriculture.
Irrigation scheduling models that have been developed help growers estimate when and how much irrigation water to apply to their crops. Most, if not all, scheduling models use weather data (real time and/or historic) and these data are usually managed by state or regional personnel. Unfortunately, the weather data formats vary from location to location and normally the scheduling model will only utilize weather data in the format of the local weather data system. Differences in the weather data collected include time steps (hourly vs. daily), sequencing (the order in which the data are stored), and varying degrees of quality control (ranging from none to intense data scrutiny). Thus, there exists a need to coordinate the weather data collection, storage formats as well as the development of scheduling models themselves. This committee has already provided much coordination among the member states and this effort should continue.
Crop water use, or evapotranspiration (ET), is usually estimated by calculating evapotranspiration for a reference crop (ETo/ETr/ETs) and then multiplying that by a crop coefficient (Kc) to estimate water use for a specific crop (ETc). Since the formation of the WERA 202 committee, (formerly the WCC-202 committee) a new standardized format for estimating reference crop water use has been published (FAO 56 and the ASCE/EWRI standardized reference ETs). These equations use the Penman-Monteith equation to standardize the way researchers estimate reference crop water use around the world. However, with a new standardized reference ET equation, questions have arisen about the usefulness of crop coefficient data developed and used with the other ET equations. Furthermore, there is now a desire to standardize Kc development in order to better allow these data to be used with the new standardized ET equation.
Finally, the use of irrigation scheduling models by growers varies from county to county, state to state and region to region. There continues to exist a need and desire to coordinate, discuss and review methods used in various states to provide clientele with the best possible information to help them better use their irrigation water resources. One example of the need for better irrigation scheduling information and methods is the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) program offered through the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). This program has begun providing cost-share money to producers to improve their irrigation water management. To be paid, the producers have to show documentation of irrigation water management for the entire growing season. This has created a demand for irrigation water management training for producers and NRCS staff. These demands have increased the need for crop specific irrigation scheduling information specifically accurate crop water use estimates.
Objectives
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Coordinate the standardization/documentation of crop coefficients used in irrigation scheduling.
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Coordinate the adoption of irrigation scheduling technology, including computer models, remote sensing or instrumentation that will help growers more efficiently apply irrigation water.
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Coordinate the development of Quality Control procedures for weather data used for irrigation scheduling.
Procedures and Activities
Task to be completed:
Objective 1
1. Coordinate development of a list and/or database on available crop coefficient data in the U.S., including information of the time step the data is based on (i.e., degree days, time, percent season, etc.)
2. Work with ASCE Kc task subcommittee on the development of a procedure for standardizing crop coefficient data.
Objective 2
1. Coordinate the evaluation of the effectiveness of delivery methods for the adoption of irrigation scheduling technology. Where possible, working with the NRCS to provide useable ET and irrigation scheduling information to producers.
2. Coordinate the evaluation of the effectiveness of irrigation scheduling tools. This will include conducting surveys to determine what types of irrigation scheduling tools are being used by different producers in each state.
3. Continue to report all findings and information on the WCC 202 (WERA 202) website located at the New Mexico State University website. see http://weather.nmsu.edu/wcc202/
4. Coordinate with the irrigation industry group (The Irrigation Association) on updating their database on existing agricultural weather networks in the US, their websites, weather data provided (present and historical) and irrigation scheduling information.
Objective 3
1. Work with WRC-102 in developing standards for QC data in all climate networks. Publish existing QC for all climate networks in each participating state.
2. Coordinate the sharing of QC software developed in an individual state to be used by all states.
3. Coordinate the development of interpolation programs to fill in missing data from climate networks. Irrigation scheduling programs will not run with any missing data.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- The outcome of Objective 1 will be the development and publication of a standardized method for determining crop coefficients. The impacts of this standardization will be an increased ability to share information on crop water use across state and regional lines, resulting in increased water conservation.
- The primary outcome for Objective 2 will be an increased adoption of irrigation technology across the member states. Furthermore, the clientele in these states will be better educated and aware of irrigation technologies available for their use. The impact will be a greater awareness of irrigation water use at the farm level, better estimates of actual crop water needs and an improvement in the management and use of limited irrigation water supplies.
- Objective 3 will result in the development and publication of quality control procedures that can be used to evaluate and improve weather data used for irrigation scheduling. The impact will be a more reliable weather data set that will result in better irrigation scheduling and an increase in yield per unit of irrigation water applied.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Many of the participants serve on committees of ASAE, ASCE, Crop Consultants of America (CCA) and the Irrigation Association (IA). It is not possible for everyone to attend and keep abreast of all the activities being conducted by these organizations connected with irrigation scheduling. One of the major foci of WERA 202 will be to have a session at each meeting that conveys to the group the activities in these other organizations and coordinates the activities among these groups. Another purpose of WERA 202 is the on-going education of its participants regarding the activities on the web connected with irrigation scheduling.
Specifically, WERA 202 will:
1. Have an in-depth education session at each annual meeting about different aspects of irrigation scheduling educational material and software.
2. Coordinate the development of effective documentation of irrigation scheduling information available through the web.
3. Coordinate the dissemination of information developed by committee members through newsletters, faxes, press releases, and magazines articles, etc.
4. Coordinate the development of short course information on irrigation scheduling using climate data that can be used by IA, CCA, irrigation districts and public schools.
Organization/Governance
One officer will be elected each year. A chairman, who develops the agenda and leads the annual meeting, and a recording secretary, who prepares the minutes and the annual report and becomes the chair the following year.