Agricultural Irrigation

Agricultural water users can optimize water use efficiency and protect the quality of water resources by applying basic information about irrigation systems, crop water use and management practices.

Friday, October 9, 2020

Planning 2021 Fertilizer-N Application Following a Dry 2020

Anticipated high residual soil nitrate-N levels in NE rainfed crops of dry 2020 can be credited to reduce N rates for 2021

Fertilizer-N is a big investment for crop production in Nebraska and elsewhere. After harvest, growers tend to plan their fertilizer-N management for the next year’s crop. But the question is how much nitrogen can they apply to get the most profit from their fertilizer-N investment?

Friday, August 28, 2020

Now is the Time of Year to Check Pivot Performance

Derek M. Heeren¹, Associate Professor and Water for Food Global Institute Faculty Fellow

Steven R. Melvin², Extension Educator

Aaron Nygren³, Associate Extension Educator

Eric Wilkening¹, Undergraduate Research Assistant

¹ Department of Biological Systems Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Friday, August 28, 2020

Scheduling the Last Irrigation of the Season

What a year 2020 has been. After a year of record flooding over much of the state, we are now in various stages of drought. With limited rainfall over most of the state this year and fairly extended hot, dry periods, many irrigators may be wondering when is the irrigation season going to end? With the price of grain, it is also worth considering do I need to apply that last inch or two of water to get that last bushel or two?

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Is It Too Easy To Turn The Irrigation Water On?

I have worked with irrigation management for almost 20 years. Today most farmers are doing a better job than when I started, however many still tend to over apply water -- leaving room for improvement. That left me wondering “Why” and “What could help more farmers apply the optimal amount of irrigation water?”

Friday, April 24, 2020

Nebraska Groundwater Levels Rise Following Wet Year

Groundwater level changes for Nebrasks for 2018 versus 2019

Groundwater levels across much of Nebraska continue to rebound from the historic 2012 drought, according to the 2019 Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report. On average, wells measured in spring 2019 saw a 2.63-foot increase in groundwater levels statewide.