SOILS,
IRRIGATION, AND AGROMETEOROLOGY
- Sustainable
potato production: Pesticide persistence and movement in soils: This
research program was initiated in 1997 by MCDC and AAFC-BRC. The program
is unique in that it examines six different potato crop rotation systems
located on one site (MCDC, Carberry) and covers almost every aspect
of crop management. As part of this larger research program the University
of Manitoba is examining the impact of crop rotation practices on pesticide
persistence, efficacy and leaching in soils
- Suitability
of Manitoba's land base to potato production: including useful heat
during the growing season, suitability of soil for irrigation, stoniness…etc.
- Evaluation
and fine-tuning of a weather databased model: for estimation of water
use by potatoes, with a view to using this model for irrigation scheduling.
- Estimation
of yield from moisture supply: i.e. precipitation plus irrigation, and
useful heat accumulation during the growing season.
- Evaluation
of a simulation model for potato growth and development.
- Evaluation
of techniques for assessing soil moisture stress in potato fields:
Soil moisture sensors are being evaluated under controlled conditions
in two laboratory scale lysimeters. Soil moisture readings
from Tensiometers, WaterMark sensors, Aqua-Tel, Aquaterr, VIRRIB
and Theat Probe were compared to the gravimetric water content
of the soil. The Theta probe was found to give accurate results
over a wide soil moisture range.
- Determination
of spray losses from sprinkler irrigation systems: Tests have been carried
out for over five years to determine the amount of water lost by
evaporation from sprinkler nozzles under Manitoba conditions. Ten
different systems have been tested during the five summers
and the data analysis is being carried out. Based on the tests
conducted, water was gained from rather than lost to the atmosphere
in southern Manitoba. These results are unique to Canadian conditions
and will lead to new predictive equations that will help producers
select the best irrigation method for maximum water and energy
conservation.
- Development
of SUSTAIN for assessing the water and nutrient uptake by potato
crops under Manitoba conditions. The program has been used to assess
the sustainability of irrigated potato production in Manitoba. It is
currently being revised to include manure as a nutrient source and also
assess the potential for groundwater contamination under potato fields.
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