Since the drought of 2012, water shortages have been an on-going issue. Amongst those affected, growers in the San Joaquin Valley are receiving only a 20 percent allocation, and it could get worse. Growers are concerned that the shortages could extend into 2014.
Growers Convert to Drip Irrigation as Water Shortages Continue Read More »
On May 15, UC Davis held its annual Alfalfa Field Day to discuss a number of topics, including pest management, varietal trials, and irrigation management. However, the highlight of the field day was the discussion on subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for alfalfa.
UC Davis Extension agronomist and forage specialist, Dan Putnam, provided the benefits and disadvantages of alfalfa on SDI and introduced a three year project that is currently looking at the water use, yield opportunities, and rodent management strategies associated with SDI. As part of this effort, UC Davis will launch an online sharing group to allow grower collaboration for SDI on alfalfa. More information can be found at http://alfalfa.ucdavis.edu/.
Subsurface Drip Irrigation Shines at Alfalfa Field Day Read More »
As the worst drought in 50 years grips the nation’s farmland, some Nebraska producers are seeing increased yields using significantly fewer water resources. The trick, they say, is using Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) to deliver water and nutrients directly to the roots of their crops. This is in contrast to applying water to the surface
In the Midst of Drought, Subsurface Drip Irrigation (SDI) Helps Producers Flourish Read More »