Oakes automatic irrigation project

Experiments of hydroponically growing Admiral pea shoots

Admiral peas bred by Agronomy Seed Farm (ASF) of NDSU Agriculture and Extension in Casselton, ND were used in our hydroponic experiments.

The seeds were washed and socked in warm water for 5 hours.

The seeds were kept in dark for the germination. It's sprayed using room temperature water twice a day.

When seeds growing sprouts and long roots, they were moved under light for quick growing. After about two weeks, the pea shoots were ready for 1st harvesting. It may be harvested for second time.

Testing and Calibrating the Hunter HPC-400 irrigation controller with Soil-Clik soil moisture module

Hunter HPC-400 irrigation controller with Soil-Clik soil moisture module will be used in two projects of remote-controlled automated irrigation with mulch for the production of specialty crops in Absaraka and Oakes, ND. This experiment is designed to determine the thresholds set in the control module to start irrigation at different soil moisture levels.

A Campbell Scientific CR1000 datalogger and a AM416 multiplexer are used to monitor and record the data of soil water potential, soil moisture and soil moisture in the above mentioned experiment.

 

Creating soil moisture release curves for the Oakes and Absaraka Sites

 

                      METER HYPROP 2 (measurement range: +20hPa to -1200 hPa / -2400 hPa)

METER WP4C (measurement range: 0 to -300 MPa)

Soil Moisture Release Curve (HYPROP 2 + WP4C)

Utilizing remote-controlled irrigation for high tunnel tomato and pepper productions in ND

 

Our proposal titled "Utilizing remote-controlled irrigation for high tunnel tomato and pepper productions in ND" has been selected and funded. Above picture shows the field visit in NDSU Horticulture Research Farm in Absaraka, ND on 08/26/2020.

The high tunnel to be used for the project.

Preparation for the automated irrigation for commercial production of watermelon, squash, and muskmelon cultivars in Oakes

 

Our proposal titled "Automated irrigation for commercial production of watermelon, squash, and muskmelon cultivars in Oakes" has been selected and funded. During the visit in NDSU Oakes Irrigation Research Site on  09/28/2021, Dr. Thomas Scherer checked the flow rate and pressure of well flow to be used for the irrigation. A Panametrics ultrasonic flow meter was used in the flow measurement.

It's time to harvest

 

                             Watermelons from the research plot were harvested for quality analysis.

Watermelons from the buffer row were harvested to distribute in the Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, NDSU.