In irrigated agriculture, the amount and the timing of irrigation play a crucial role in obtaining a sustainable higher yield with minimum adverse effects on the environment. Insufficient irrigation on critical growth stages results in lesser crop yield than the genetic potentiality of a given variety; and excess irrigation leads to higher pumping cost, quick depletion of water resources, leaching of nutrients, and environmental pollution. Soybean is the second largest irrigated crop in ND, however, there is a lack of information on the optimum amount and timing of irrigation of this crop for western ND. In this project, irrigation treatments (amount x timing i.e. growth stage) will be applied using an automated linear system capable of variable rate application. The amount of water to be applied, as per treatments, will be determined based on available soil moisture, precipitation forecasts, current rainfall, soil infiltration rate, and crop growth stages. The research results will be communicated to clienteles through presentations at field days, workshops, and publications. The outcomes of this study will help soybean producers of ND, especially that of western ND, to determine irrigation schedules that enhance yield, water productivity, and soil health; thus, an increased sustainable high farm profit.

1. The main objective of this project is to determine the optimum amount and timing of irrigation for enhanced soybean yield, quality, and water productivity.

2. The secondary objectives are to assess the effect of irrigation treatments

(a) on soil health manifested by changes in soil physical and chemical properties, and

(b) on the manifestation of soybean diseases including but not limited to white mold

1. A technical report on the outcomes of the project.

2. An executive summary of the project.

Update:

Miki Miheguli:
This trial is terminated on Aug 14 with Miki Miheguli's approval. The trail at Williston Research Center received serious hail damage on Monday, August 1, 2023, around 6 pm and wiped-out soybean irrigation plots.

Considering the situation, I approved the project termination request on Aug 13. The NDSC will cover the cost of this trail that occurred until Aug 1. The PI can provide the report with data collected from the trial until the damage occurred. It is impossible to take the yield data from this trial due to devastating hail damage. The trail hail damage photo is saved on Soybean Research database.

The email exchage was saved on Research project change request folder on Email.




Here is the email I received from the PI

"Dear Miki,

I hope this email finds you in good health. As I indicated during our participation in the NDSC Research Priorities Round Table Discussion on July 3rd, 2023, I am writing to offer an update on the present status of the Soybean irrigation project titled "Determination of optimum irrigation amount and timing for enhanced soybean yield, quality, water productivity, and soil health under semiarid western ND."

Unfortunately, I must share that the trial has suffered complete devastation due to a severe hailstorm on Monday, August 1, 2023, around 6 pm. The attached image vividly depicts the extent of the damage, leaving the crop in ruins and regrettably nullifying any prospects of obtaining harvest data for this particular year. I am going to clean the field in the coming days.

I intend to incorporate the soil moisture, growth, and crop health data gathered up until August 1, 2023, into my forthcoming reports. If you have any recommendations or insights regarding this situation, kindly let me know.

Best regards,

Gautam"

Here is my email reply:

Hi Gautam

Thanks for the update. The hail damage to research plot is unfortunate, but unavoidable. I will document this and give you approval to terminate this trial. Please send us invoice that occurred until Aug 1, and keep good record of the event. In your reports, you can provide data and summary until Aug 1. The report is going to miss the yield data but that is ok.

Thank you!

View uploaded report

According to USDA FSA Crop Acreage Data of 2020, there were about 276,982 acres of irrigated cropland in North Dakota, and soybean was the second largest irrigated crop (63,686 acres) preceded by corn (87,124 acres) and followed by beans (27,366 acres) (USDA-FSA, 2020). According to USDA's 2013 Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey (USDA-ERS, 2020), about 82 percent of irrigated farms in North Dakota are using “condition of a crop by observation” followed by 56 percent using the “feel of the soil” as means of deciding when to apply water. One of the reasons for these practices is the lack of information on appropriate timing and amount of irrigation for a given crop, including soybean. Information on the appropriate amount and timing of irrigation from this research will help western ND soy producers to apply the judicial amount of irrigation at the proper time. The ultimate benefits will be an enhanced yield, quality, water productivity, and soil health, and decreased leaching, environmental pollution, disease incidence; thus, a higher farm profit.