This document outlines Xin Qiao's work as an irrigation management specialist researching ways to improve irrigation practices in western Nebraska. It discusses the importance of irrigation management given water constraints. Previous research in the region focused on improving irrigation techniques like timing and quantity. Current research uses sensors to monitor soil moisture and plant water stress. Experiments compare different irrigation treatments. The goal is to help farmers optimize irrigation and crop yields using new technologies, while conserving water resources. Research results will be shared with farmers through dynamic extension programs to solve on-farm problems.

1. Xin Qiao
Irrigation Management Specialist
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Irrigation Management in Western
Nebraska

2. Outline
• Background
• Why do we care about irrigation
management?
• Crop production and previous research in
western Nebraska
• On going research and future possibilities

3. Background
o 05/2017 – now, irrigation specialist, UNL
• 50% extension, 50% research
o 01/2016 – 05/2017, postdoctoral fellow, Clemson
University
o 08/2009 – 12/2015, graduate student, Clemson
University
o 09/2005 – 06/2009, B.S. in South China University
of Technology

4. Outline
• Background
• Why do we care about irrigation
management?
• Crop production and previous research
in western Nebraska
• Ongoing research and future possibilities

5. “Day Zero” in South Africa

6. Source: https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-percapita.html

7. Why is irrigation management important?
Source: USGS water use in the United States (http://water.usgs.gov/watuse/wutrends.html)

8. The conflict…

9. Our possible options
q Retire farm lands?
q Better technologies, therefore more crop per
droplet of water? Better adoption of technologies?
q Better understanding of water issues among public,
government, and farmers?

10. Outline
• Background
• Why do we care about irrigation
management?
• Crop production and previous research
in western Nebraska
• Ongoing research and future possibilities

11. Crops in western Nebraska

12. Panhandle Research and Extension Center,
PHREC, Scottsbluff

13. Western NE irrigated corn yield = Eastern NE dryland corn yield
Corn yield in Nebraska

14. Typical growing season and rotations
Dry bean -> Corn -> Sugar beet -> Corn
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4

15. Irrigation in western Nebraska
Ø Irrigation water source
o Surface water
o Ground water, subject to pump
regulation, 60 – 70 inches/5 years
Ø Irrigation types:
o Furrow irrigation
o Center pivot
o Drip

16. Previous irrigation research at western NE
Irrigation
management
research
Cover crop
Breeding
Sensor
technology
Crop
rotation
Irrigation
equipment
Timing of
irrigation
Quantity of
irrigation

17. Outline
• Background
• Why do we care about irrigation
management?
• Crop production and previous research
in western Nebraska
• Ongoing research and future possibilities

18. Facilities at PHREC
Variable rate
lateral sprinkler,
16 acre
Subsurface drip
irrigation, 9 acre

19. Ongoing research and future possibilities
• Water stress monitoring at:
o Soil level
Ø Soil moisture sensors
Ø Minirhizotron camera system
o Canopy level
Ø Infrared radiometry thermometer
Ø Unmanned aerial vehicle
Ø Satellite data products
• Irrigation equipment
o speed controlled variable rate irrigation?
o Drip irrigation system?
• Wireless sensing network

20. Experiment in 2017
• 8 irrigation
treatments under
variable rate
sprinkler system
• Sensors installed at
wettest and driest
plots
4
7 1 1 8 5
2 2 7 5 3
8 1 8 3 6
7 5 8 5 4
4 1 5 3 7
4 7 8 3 1
1 1 1 3 4
4 4 5 3 4
2 4 7 1 1
4 1 2 6 7
6 7 5 2 1
7 5 8 6 7
4 2 8 1 6
3 6 5 7 7
4 8 7 3 4
8 8 3 8 4
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User
Community
span4grid
Trt
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

21. Visual inspection of treatments
Treatment 1 - wet Treatment 8 - dry

22. Water stress monitoring
• Infrared thermometer
• Soil moisture sensors
• Minirhizotron system

23. Canopy temperature

24. Water stress monitoring
Dr. Yeyin Shi from biological systems Engineering of UNL was
calibrating her drone
• RGB image
• Spectral image

25. Data from UAV
• “8” represents
driest plots

26. How do we transfer research result to
farmers?
Farmers
Analyze
resultsData
Extension
material
Conduct
experiment
Problem
Results are limited and interpolated

27. Data involved in agriculture
vField information
vAgronomic practices, such as tillage and
crop rotation
vIrrigation events and pump flow meter
readings
vSoil moisture dynamics during growing
season
vYield map

28. Dynamic extension program
Analyze
results
Database
Solution/protocol
experiments
ProblemFarmers’
fields

29. Thank you!
xin.qiao@unl.edu