Kentucky Professor Works to Improve Irrigation

Thanks to a Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA, a University of Kentucky Professor Is Studying HowSeasonal High Tunnels Can Be More Efficient

Krista Jacobsen, an assistant professor of horticulture, is studying the soil inside of high tunnels and the possibilities of catching rainwater to irrigate crops inside of them. High tunnels are plastic-covered structures that enable farmers to have crops ready earlier or later in the season.

In high tunnels, plants are grown directly in the ground, and the sun's heat regulates the temperature inside. Since 2009, USDA'sNatural Resources Conservation Servicehas provided assistance to help producers construct more than 9,000 high tunnels on farms around the country. In the past two years, more than 400 have been installed in Kentucky.

Many farmers use drip irrigation to water crops in high tunnels. The water typically comes from natural sources, such as ponds or springs, or from city water. But city water can often cost more and the chemicals sometimes added to it aren't good for plants because they can cause a buildup of salts, said John Graham, a soil health specialist.

Jacobsen is looking at a device that will catch rainwater and then make it available to irrigate crops. This puts natural water to use, simulating rainfall on traditional field crops. Using rainwater also conserves water by not using underground sources."

"A main focus of this project is decreasing the ‘water footprint' of high tunnel production for a variety of locations in Kentucky," she said. "In areas with access to city water, this means reducing the use of drinking-quality water for irrigation purposes."

And in rural areas, it offers a low-cost and simple solution for farmers, she said.

"Our project focuses on developing rainwater capture systems that are scale-appropriate to the smaller high tunnels popping up throughout Appalachia, and training farmers on efficient irrigation practices using relatively low-cost soil water monitoring equipment," Jacobsen said.

The first of the rainwater catchment devices developed and constructed by the university will be installed and demonstrated for this fall and winter crop.

Source: USDA Blog

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