Unsteady global markets, erratic weather patterns, rising input costs, and depleting natural resources require agriculturalists to find innovative solutions to counter the changes. The natural resource of most concern in the Intermountain West is water. Urban sprawl, limiting winter snowpack, watershed depletions, and drought persistence pressure the need to optimize and conserve water in agriculture. Water is becoming the limiting factor for growers, making water use optimization of water use a necessity. Numerous management practices have water-saving capabilities or allow for water to be used during more efficient times of the growing season. These include advanced pivot technologies, drought-tolerant crop genetics, tillage practices, and cover crop usage. Various studies show these individual practices can help optimize water use, yet few, if any, studies have evaluated how these various combinations might combine or "stack" to optimize water use or their effects on yield and quality. Field studies were established in 2019 near Logan, Utah, and repeated in 2020, Vernal, Utah in 2020 and 2021, and Cedar City, Utah in 2021. These sites tested how four pivot sprinkler technologies, four irrigation rates, crop genetics, and soil management influence silage corn (Zea mays) production. Data results from the five site years will be presented. Preliminary results show that no single combination is perfect across all the sites.
Tina Sullivan
Originally from Tennessee, I graduated from University of Tennessee at Martin with a bachelors degree in agricultural engineering technology and precision agriculture technology. I worked for Tennessee Farmer's Cooperative as a manager trainee and agronomy technician which allowed me to get my Certified Crop Advisor - TN license. I came to Logan and Utah State University in August 2019 to start my graduate program with Matt Yost on a multi-site water optimization project. Over my time being here, I have been working on other projects including an industrial hemp management project for Utah and soil additives for water infiltration issues. I defended my masters degree in December 2021 over 4R Nitrogen and Water Optimization Combinations for Intermountain West Field Crops. I am continuing my education with Matt Yost for my doctoral program.
Matt Yost
Earl Creech
Dakota Boren
Niel Allen