Automated Drip Irrigation with Mulches for the Tomato and Watermelon Production in North Dakota 2019-2020

Seeds Sangria Hybrid Watermelon and Hybrid Determinate Tomatoes Celebrity F1) grew in NDSU Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) Research Greenhouse Complex.

A subcompact raised bed mulch layer had been used to lay the mulches and drip tapes underneath simultaneously.

A complete randomized split plot design in 2020. This two-year field experiment was conducted in a research farm located in the southwest corner of NDSU campus. Two irrigation control boxes were used for the watermelon and tomato separately.

Four irrigation control settings were in each control box for the plots of clear plastic, black plastic, landscape fabric and no mulch. The Hunter node 100 was to control the start/end time and duration of irrigation. The plot soil moisture signal read by the Irrometer watermark electronic module (WEM-B) was to compared with the desired wet/dry level to determine if irrigation should be triggered. A flow meter with a datalogger was to record the irrigation flow data.

Five watermelon or six tomatoes were planted in each 25ft long plot with two parallel drip tapes installed.

Cameras were installed to monitor the growth and dataloggers in the white enclosures were to record the soil water potentials and temperatures in the plots.

Field visit and discussion.

Harvested watermelon and tomatoes to be tested in lab.

Deep Core Sampling away from the Tile to Investigate the Changes of Soil Properties

Changes in soil chemical and physical properties are determined by deep soil core sampling. A backhoe is used to completely expose the tile line during sampling. One sample is taken right above the tile and nine samples are taken at 8, 16, 32 inch away from the tile in a radial pattern. The collected soil samples from three sites will be sent to NDSU Soil Testing Lab for analysis.

Expanding Your Horizons at NDSU

Expanding Your Horizons is a nationwide organization that holds regional conferences for young women in grades 7-9 to encourage and develop their career interests in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in an effort to overcome a history of limited participation by women in these career fields. As shown in above picture, students Anne Gatzke and Hannah Bye demonstrated irrigation and drainage to 9 middle and high school girls in our research lab during the event organized by NDSU on April 9, 2016.

 

 

Crop Yield Estimation

Graduate student Qiang Li is using a corn sheller to thresh corns.

After threshing, Qiang is measuring the corn weight and moisture for yield estimation.

Installation of Soil Moisture Sensors

The SDI-12 Hydra Probe II soil moisture sensors have been installed in Burkland Farms, Grand Forks County on November 9, 2015. The sensing system measures soil moisture, electrical conductivity and temperature at surface (0-5 inches) and below at seven depths (5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 inches). The CR1000 datalogger of Campbell Scientific, Inc. with a 12V battery and a 20W solar panel reads signals and stores data.

Undergraduate Research Presentation at NDSU Explore

Anne Gatzke of our group is presenting her research at NDSU Explore, an annual event celebrating the scholarly accomplishments of NDSU undergraduate students on November 3, 2015. The tittle of her poster is "Impact of Various Mulches on Sweet Corn Germination, Plant Growth, and Yield".

Ditch Water Quality and Flow Survey

Dr. Xinhua Jia and her research group are doing the water quality and flow survey along the field ditch. The water quality parameters,  such as nitrate, phosphate, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH and temperature are measured and the water flow is estimated. Water samples are also collected for further lab analysis.