Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017KY272B

Soil moisure conditions and yield across slope positions under western Kentucky irrigated management

Institute: Kentucky
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $11,692

Principal Investigators: Brad Lee

Abstract: This will be a field based project in the Jackson Purchase area of western Kentucky focusing on irrigated corn in two center-pivot irrigated fields with similar loess derived soils: one with a water limiting layer (fragipan) in Graves/Calloway County area and the other in deep well-drained soils in Hickman/Fulton County area for a duration of one year. The objectives of the study are: to evaluate the soil moisture conditions under different slope positions in irrigated row crop systems in western Kentucky and to develop sensor placement recommendations that will optimize soil moisture measurements resulting in higher yields and lower nutrient and sediment loss from irrigated systems.