Project Abstract

Spring Wheat is the most common crop grown on irrigated acres in Alberta. Water reservoirs consistently remaining below normal levels for years has built an increasing pressure on irrigated farming systems. This project explores the response of Spring Wheat when grown under reduced allocation rates of irrigation, to provide farmers with knowledge before these reductions are enforced.

Crops can be sensitive to reduced soil moisture at critical growing stages. This project will evaluate the performance of irrigated wheat crops under a series of different full-season irrigation allotments ranging from zero supplemental irrigation to full irrigation as required on the basis of measured plant available water (PAW) in the soil.

We will trigger irrigation at 65% PAW, to minimize crop water stress until the seasonal allocation of irrigation water is fully depleted. This research will give farmers the information to support decisions about water allocation when available irrigation water is limited. We aim to investigate how to effectively optimize these reduced allocation irrigation practices and maintain economic crop yield and quality.

Methods

The research team will build a specialized irrigation system with a lattice of valves and sprinklers capable of watering individual plots uniformly and uniquely. Researchers will use soil moisture sensors and crop water modelling to monitor soil moisture and to determine if/when each plot requires supplemental irrigation, and ensure prescribed allocations are never exceeded. Crops will be monitored throughout the season to evaluate the impact of different allocation levels on crop performance.