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INVESTIGATOR: McComb, J.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY
ALCORN STATE, MISSISSIPPI 39096

ADAPTABILITY, EFFICIENCY, AND IMPACT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS & SCHEDULING METHODS ON SMALL AND LIMITED RESOURCE VEGETABLE & FRUIT FARMS IN MS

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Many small and limited resource growers in Mississippi (MS) do not use irrigation for their crops. This could greatly limit potential sales and returns, and may even reduce natural and overall resource use efficiency by requiring more non-irrigation resources per unit of crop produced. This project has three objectives: a) document the use and barriers of drip and sprinkler irrigation and scheduling methods in small holder vegetable and fruit systems in the state; b) identify lead growers and introduce systems to and through these growers that can improve resource use efficiency, return on investment, and resilience; and c) educate growers and improve the productivity and economic viability of small and limited resource growers and the communities they serve. Objective (a) will be accomplished by conducting grower surveys through state and local agricultural meetings, and by phone. Then, survey data will be analyzed and recommendations will follow to accomplish objective (b). In objective (b), identified lead growers will receive training in vegetable/fruit production using irrigation systems. This objective will be attained by collecting and comparing efficiency and productivity data from vegetable and fruit farms using irrigation and non-irrigated methods. Objective (c) will be accomplished by developing field days at grower sites, and at ASU and MSU facilities. The results from this study will 1) help farmers to adopt/adapt sustainable irrigation technology in their farms; 2) advance in the state of knowledge regarding vegetable/fruit crop water use in MS; 3) develop critical knowledge and data related to sustainable irrigation management.

OBJECTIVES: Our goal is to understand factors influencing the adoption, efficiency, and impact of irrigation systems and scheduling methods for irrigation on small and limited resource vegetable and fruit farms in Mississippi, and through this understanding, to test and demonstrate the value of appropriate irrigation technologies to smaller and limited-resource farmers in Mississippi and surrounding states. This project has three objectives: a) Document the use and barriers of drip and sprinkler irrigation and scheduling methods in small holder vegetable and fruit systems in the state. b) Identify lead growers and introduce systems to and through these growers that can improve resource use efficiency, return on investment, and resilience. c) Educate growers and improve the productivity and economic viability of small and limited resource growers and the communities they serve.

APPROACH: Objective a) Document the use and barriers of drip and sprinkler irrigation and scheduling methods in small holder vegetable and fruit systems in the state.Dr. Martinez will lead the grower survey. Our evaluation methods under objective one of this study focuses on what farmers are doing to improve their irrigation efficiency. Alcorn and Mississippi State researchers will develop surveys (phone and face-to-face with farmers) and flowcharts to identify and assess adoption barriers. This survey requires information, among others, about soil type, topography, water availability, water quality, operation and maintenance schedules, farmer's perceptions of advantages and disadvantages and system location. The initial results will be shared among project researchers in order to modify the survey protocol, in order to include indicator(s) specific to the farmer's needs and other set of barriers not built-in in the initial survey questions. The project will work to develop a flowchart for adoption of irrigation methods, which will be refined through meeting discussions. Alcorn's Cooperative Extension personnel will take the lead on objective one, particularly with the survey aspects.Objective b) Identify lead growers and introduce systems to and through these growers that can improve resource use efficiency, return on investment, and resilience.Five research and demonstration sites will be geographically selected to cover different socio-economic, agricultural, and physiographic characteristics of Mississippi: MSU Crystal Springs Experimental Station (South Central MS), ASU campus farms (Southwest MS), Mid-South Progressive Agricultural Group (North MS), Foot Print Farms (Central MS) and Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (North Central MS).Dr. Diaz will lead the irrigation studies at ASU campus farms in year 2 and year 3. At ASU studies, farmers will be trained in low-cost irrigation practices, water conservation practices (rainwater harvesting) and two different scheduling methods (evapotranspiration and soil moisture). Hourly potential evapotranspiration will be computed using weather data from a weather station located on-site. Daily actual evapotranspiration we will be computed using crop coefficients used in the U.S. southern region. In plots where scheduling of irrigation are based on weather and vegetable crop conditions, water will be applied at 50%, 75%, and 100% evapotranspiration taking in consideration rainfall and irrigation. Soil moisture will be measured using tensiometers installed in plots at 6-, 12-, and 18-inch depths. Tensiometers will be read three times a day (8:00 am, noon, and 4:00 pm) and irrigation will be applied when tensiometers read 10 to 20 centibars depending on vegetable stage. The control will be non-irrigated rain based treatments. A list of potential vegetables to be used in this study includes: tomatoes and bell peppers. We selected these vegetables after a meeting with cooperating farmers. Selected vegetables will cover the different seasons (spring, summer, and fall). A completely randomized block design with three replications will be used. The experimental unit will be 12 ft long by 4 ft wide. This study will use field and high tunnel production. Plant survival, growth and nutritional status will be determined at 30 days after planting (DAP). At harvest, yield will be determined.At the MSU Crystal Springs station (Dr. Evans), a study with three irritation treatments (non-irrigated, timer based irritation, and tensiometer-based irrigation will be run on tomatoes in years 1 and 2 of the project. These will be run in the field and in high tunnels, as two distinct experiments, two years each. Each plot will contain ten tomato plants set 2 ft. (0.6 m) apart in the row, with rows on 5 ft (1.8 m) apart in the tunnel and 6 ft (~1.0 m) apart in the field, with four replicates fo the three treatments. All treatments will have water meters and the hours of labor/input will be recorded for each as well. Yields and crop quality data will be collected, as will qualitative data on disease and insect pressures observed.In addition, three commercial vegetable fields at cooperating farmers with irrigation systems as well as non-irrigated fields will be monitored for 2 years using tensiometers and evapotranspiration methods for comparison. A completely randomized block design with three replications will be used for field and high tunnel production studies. The experimental unit will be 12 ft long by 4 ft wide. Irrigation scheduling followed by the grower will be tracked and compared with science-based irrigation methods tested in this study to determine deviation from optimal and potential improvement.Dr. Funtikova-White will lead the economic part of this project. The main focus of the economic part of this project will be on cost-benefit analysis based on the data collected on participating growers. Enterprise budgets for selected crops will be developed separately for conventional (non-irrigated) approach, common local irrigation production, and production with best management irrigation systems. This will allow us to compare costs per acre for each case. Actual crop yields and current market prices will be used to calculate revenue per acre. All the information mentioned above will be sufficient to evaluate production efficiency and economic feasibility of proposed methods. Economic component of this project will also include assessment of current and potential marketing outlets for vegetables/fruits based on the data from the initial survey. Economic effectiveness and profitability of different marketing options will be compared and recommendations for farmers will be developed based on this study.Objective c) Educate growers and improve the productivity and economic viability of small and limited resource growers and the communities they serve.This task will be lead by Dr. Diaz (ASU) and Dr. Evans (MSU) with input from other researchers. This task will be developed using ASU and MSU Extension Service staff and farm centers and on-site farms. We are planning to develop annual field days for producers on each of the ASU and MSU farm centers and on-farm demonstration sites located in North, Southwest, South central, Central and Northwest Mississippi to demonstrate sustainable irrigation strategies and low-cost irrigation practices. In addition, minority students will be trained in sustainable agricultural issues and crop water use by taking courses actively participating in research and outreach activities. Three small-scaled farmers will be cooperating on this project and they will be receiving training in management of irrigation systems and scheduling methods in vegetable production.Participating farmers are expected to be actively involved in the dissemination of their experiences. Information developed in this project regarding irrigation management will be posted on MSU and ASU Extension Service websites.Research/extension results will be presented at national/regional/local conferences. Research/extension results will be published in scientific journal also. Annual reports and the final report to USDA will serve as a dissemination venue also.A quarterly progress report will be used as a tool for evaluation and review of protocol. These measures will include questionnaire, surveys, self-reporting, observations, and follow up calls to the target audience in their respective counties. The target audience will be asked to complete pre- and post-tests to score the training program success. The responses from the forms will be tallied and summarized to determine the outcome of the training sessions and workshops.

PROGRESS: 2015/01 TO 2020/01
Target Audience:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pMffk2qI5XfXT2T8DDM0kfJll3chNji3/view ?usp=sharing Changes/Problems:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pMffk2qI5XfXT2T8DDM0kfJll3chN ji3/view?usp=sharing What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

IMPACT: 2015/01 TO 2020/01
What was accomplished under these goals? https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pMffk2qI5XfXT2T8DDM0kfJll3chNji3/view?usp=shar ing

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2015/01 TO 2020/01
No publications reported this period.