Past, Present, Future |
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Present and Future
Past Accomplishments
Ralph Parshall's venturi flume is in use world wide. | Variable Chemical Application Cooperation with industry partners has resulted in a pivot attached spray system capable of variable chemical application. | ||
| Irrigation Management Center pivot irrigation scheduling programs use weather data to recommend time and amount of irrigation. | Weed Models Use of bioeconomic weed models reduced herbicide use by 6% and increased profit by $11.60 per acre. | |
| Remote Sensing Crop growth stage and need for nitrogen can be detected in near real time. | Water Quality Water management studies addressed problems from animal waste control to agriculture salinity. | |
| Surface Irrigation Automation Automatic controls reduced the labor required to change irrigation sets. | Pivot Hydraulics Equations for expressing the uniformity of center pivots are incorporated into international standards. | |
Crop Water Use Early evaporation tank studies evolved into evapotranspiration equations and a state wide weather station network. |
Yield Mapping Commercial yield monitors allow precise mapping of crop production. Weed Mapping Site specific weed management can reduce herbicide use by 30% to 60% or one million pounds per year in Colorado. Remote Sensing One study showed N fertilizer could be reduced by 35 lbs/acre without reducing yield precision application. - Precision Farming - The right amount... In the right place... At the right time!! New technologies such as EM38 allow rapid assessment of variable soil properties. Variable Chemical Application New equipment allows applying fertilizer and pesticides only when and where needed. Improved Sprinkler Design With proper design, center pivots can apply water very uniformly. Models Both research and customer models such as the sprinkler design, weed bioeconomics, and irrigation scheduling continue to be important products. Electrical Conductivity