July 2025

The demonstration plots at the Water Conservation Center (WCC) are advancing well, and we have been fortunate to receive timely and beneficial rainfall this summer. The pivot systems are being utilized to study the water allocation between corn and forage sorghum, as well as between cotton and forage sorghum. This builds upon last year's project, which indicated that forage sorghum could play a significant role in optimizing our limited water resources to yield good returns while also supplying feed for the expanding beef and dairy herds across the panhandle. Additionally, the two drip fields are being used to analyze the performance of modern drought-tolerant hybrids under limited water conditions.

All research at the WCC employs commercial equipment at a field scale, ensuring that the outcomes can be easily replicated on local farms. To manage various projects effectively, we are utilizing a range of commercially available technologies. This newsletter aims to provide you with insight into some of the tools we use to stay current and manage operations remotely.

The demonstration involving the two subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) fields is quite intricate. We have planted six different hybrids, which include four drought-tolerant lines and two control varieties, irrigated at four distinct rates: 12”, 15”, 18”, and 24” throughout the year. This complete demonstration is replicated with an early planting (5/12/25) in the south SDI field and a later planting (6/3/25) in the north SDI field. Since I am unable to physically monitor the fields daily, I rely on technology to ensure everything is progressing as planned.

Figure 1 Satellite picture of the WCC with an NDVI vegetation index from Climate Fieldview overlaid on the north SDI field.

I am utilizing the irrigation controller to verify the amount of water delivered to each SDI plot, while the soil moisture probes ensure that irrigation occurred as scheduled. However, nothing confirms the process quite like a photograph. Fortunately, we are using Climate Fieldview, which supplies regular satellite images illustrating the landscape from above. The vegetation index displayed in Figure 1 showcases the level of plant biomass present in the field. Notable differences are further detailed in Figure 2, where the irrigation zones are delineated, along with a series of images captured every 10 days from late June to mid-July. The SDI was programmed to irrigate the plots every two days, with fertigation applied from July 1 to July 8. The satellite images clearly indicate that the zones receiving more water and fertilizer exhibited significantly greater biomass. These visuals confirm that the water and fertilizer treatments are being administered as intended.

Figure 2 An expanded view of the satellite NDVI images for the north SDI on 3 different dates spread at 10 day intervals. The boxes highlight the boundaries between the irrigation treatments. Note that the higher irrigation treatments also had a greater plant population.

Soil Moisture Probes and Irrigation Impact

Soil moisture probes from GroGuru and AquaSpy were installed across various plots to evaluate irrigation application and crop responses to drip irrigation. Figure 3 illustrates the soil moisture graphs from AquaSpy for the P14364PCUE AquaMax hybrid under both full and limited water conditions.

It is evident that the full water treatment, which applies 0.5 inches every two days, effectively maintains soil moisture compared to the 0.28 inches every two days in the limited water treatment.

Fortunately, the entire field began with a full soil moisture profile, as confirmed by the GroGuru probes, providing ample moisture, even under restricted irrigation.

Upon examining the black lines in each graph, you will notice that the stair-stepping—representing the amount of water the plant "drinks" daily—is more pronounced in the full water treatment. This trend is particularly noticeable in the last few days of the graph, where the increased irrigation correlates with higher water consumption by the plants.

Figure 3 shows the summary soil moisture graphs from the fully irrigated (left) and 12" irrigation (right). The fully watered plot maintains a good level of moisture during tasseling, whereas the 12" irrigation has dried the soil out quite substantially.

Upon examining the root zone more closely, as illustrated in Figure 4, we observe that the fully irrigated treatment effectively wets a larger portion of the soil than the 12-inch treatment. The readings from the 4-20 inch sensors increase with each irrigation cycle, in contrast to the 8-16 inch sensors. This outcome aligns with expectations, given that the drip tape is positioned approximately 12 inches deep.

Figure 4 shows the soil moisture at separate depths from 4" down to 36" for the full irrigation (right) and the 12" irrigation (left). It is evident that the limited irrigation wets a smaller amount of soil, compared to the full irrigation treatment.

The separate layer soil moisture graph reveals noticeable stair-stepping (or daily drinking) at the yellow 36” sensor on both graphs. This observation is not surprising, as they come from the same hybrid.

While this provides just a brief overview of some of the technology utilized at the WCC, it plays a critical role in irrigation decision-making, ensuring our choices are both accurate and timely. It also helps us verify that we are executing our plans effectively, with all treatments applied as intended. Being able to observe the root zone from above and connect these visuals in real time is incredibly beneficial. Although everything appears to be functioning smoothly, this technology enables us to identify potential issues before they escalate. For instance, there is a prominent red dot in the upper right corner of the satellite images in Figure 2. If I hadn’t anticipated this, I might question the absence of plants in that area of the field. However, it is simply a gas well that is fenced off from farming, aligning perfectly with our expectations. Technology truly is remarkable when it operates seamlessly!

Noah Manner, Field Technician

On June 25th, the field staff attended the ATV rider safety course at the NRCS office in Spearman, TX. During this session, we reviewed the fundamentals of safe ATV operation and were introduced to the essential safety gear required for riding. The instructor provided us with a thorough demonstration of basic maneuvers that riders may encounter, after which we practiced these skills in a safe and controlled environment.

This course significantly enhanced our riding abilities and taught us how to navigate potential obstacles safely while in the field. I believe this course is invaluable, whether you're an experienced rider or a beginner. It equips novice riders with all the necessary knowledge and equipment for getting started, while also offering seasoned riders the opportunity to refine their skills.