Irrigators in the Nebraska Panhandle with fields that have varying soil types or topography are being to sought partner with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Panhandle Research and Extension Center for an on-farm experiment to study soil variability and variable-rate irrigation.

Amir Haghverdi, the new Water Management and Irrigation Specialist at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center, is seeking several farmer partners to be part of the project.

Haghverdi said variable-rate irrigation is a possible way to optimize irrigation and crop yields in situations where a field has a lot of variation – either from different soil types or from rolling topography. Different types of soil texture (for example, silty soils in some parts of a field and sandy soils in others) can affect a soil’s water-holding capacity. Rolling topography can influence infiltration and runoff, he explained.

Haghverdi hopes to have several farmers as project partners when he submits a grant proposal around the end of August. When a farmer contacts him expressing an interest in the project, Haghverdi will inspect the field to determine its suitability. At each location, he plans to map the soil, delineate irrigation management zones, and then meet with the farmer and talk about possible irrigation management scenarios.

Good candidates for the project would have either a variable rate irrigation system, or else variability in soils as described, he said.

Cooperating farmers will have fields mapped and data analyzed for free. In the second phase of the project (after the soil is mapped), Haghverdi will select some fields and place soil-moisture sensors to monitor soil water status. Sensor data will be provided to producers for free, and they will also receive help to interpret the data.

Haghverdi expects to conduct more variable irrigation projects in the future, so even those who aren’t used in the current project can expect to become cooperators.

In fact, any farmer who is interested in cooperating by hosting an on-farm experiment is encouraged to contact Haghverdi, who is planning to conduct several other projects on irrigation scheduling and deficit irrigation in the near future.

Irrigators who want to be involved should contact Haghverdi, by email at [email protected] or by phone at 308-632-1246. They can also contact Dave Reichert, research technician, by phone at 308-632-1235, or email: [email protected]