C i f G d R i h M j Hi h DC ti f G d t R i th M j Hi h D tConservation of Groundwater Resources in the Mojave High DesertConservation of Groundwater Resources in the Mojave High DesertConservation of Groundwater Resources in the Mojave High Desert j gR i th h P d Ed ti f I i ti M tRegion through Producer Education of Irrigation ManagementRegion through Producer Education of Irrigation ManagementRegion through Producer Education of Irrigation ManagementRegion through Producer Education of Irrigation Managementg g g g

G t P l (P f i l P d G t P )Grant Poole (Professional + Producer Grant Program)Grant Poole (Professional + Producer Grant Program)Grant Poole (Professional Producer Grant Program)( g )

P j t N b FW03 318 Actions: Potential Benefits:Project Number: FW03-318 Actions: Potential Benefits:j

Title: Conservation of Groundwater Resources in the Mojave High Desert Region T li h th bj ti il i t it i i t i t ll d i F th b i i f thi j t th h b f tTitle: Conservation of Groundwater Resources in the Mojave High Desert Region To accomplish these objectives, soil moisture monitoring equipment was installed in From the beginning of this project, there has been an emergence of water j g gth h P d Ed ti f I i ti M t

o acco p s t ese object ves, so o stu e o to g equ p e t was sta edi i h h lf lf d i El i l i

o t e beg g o t s p oject, t e e as bee a e e ge ce o wateil bili i d L A l C h b h f bli hithrough Producer Education of Irrigation Management cooperation with three alfalfa growers and one onion grower Electrical resistance availability issues and Los Angeles County has begun the process of establishingg g g cooperation with three alfalfa growers and one onion grower. Electrical resistance availability issues and Los Angeles County has begun the process of establishing

blocks were installed at 1 2 and 4 feet in the alfalfa and at 8 inches and 20 inches in water rights in the Antelope Valley which represents over three-fourths of the totalPrincipal Investigator: blocks were installed at 1, 2, and 4 feet in the alfalfa and at 8 inches and 20 inches in water rights in the Antelope Valley, which represents over three-fourths of the total Principal Investigator: the onions These blocks were connected to computerized data loggers that collected agricultural acreage in the Mojave High Desert Regionp gG t P l the onions. These blocks were connected to computerized data loggers that collected agricultural acreage in the Mojave High Desert Region.Grant Poole p gg

d il di f thg g j g g

F UC C ti E t i A t F Ad i daily readings from the sensors.Former: UC Cooperative Extension Agent, Farm Advisor y gTh lf lf d i d hi h l i h 2004Former: UC Cooperative Extension Agent, Farm Advisor Three alfalfa growers and one onion grower used this technology in the 2004Current: Ph D Candidate in Plant Pathology Three alfalfa growers and one onion grower used this technology in the 2004 Current: Ph.D. Candidate in Plant Pathology season There are about 20 000 acres of agriculture in Northern Los AngelesWashington State University season. There are about 20,000 acres of agriculture in Northern Los Angeles Washington State University County of the Mojave High Desert These growers and additional alfalfa fruit treegpoole@wsu edu County of the Mojave High Desert. These growers and additional alfalfa, fruit tree, gpoole@wsu.edu and vine growers invested in this technology once it had been demonstratedgp @ and vine growers invested in this technology once it had been demonstrated g gyth h th j t d fi ld dd Ad i through the project and field days.Producer Advisor: through the project and field days.

M i diProducer Advisor: Moisture readings can Joe Harter

gbe monitored on anJoe Harter Funding from this project allowed for the installation and demonstration of soilbe monitored on an

Harter Farms Funding from this project allowed for the installation and demonstration of soil office computer.Harter Farms moisture monitoring equipment which had not been introduced previously intooffice computer.

34530 Mi l Rd moisture monitoring equipment, which had not been introduced previously into 34530 Minneola Rd. g q p , p ythi O t h d t d th h l tt t fi ld d dD CA 92327 this area. Outreach was conducted through newsletters, two field days, and grower Daggett, CA 92327 s e . Ou e c w s co duc ed oug ews e e s, wo e d d ys, d g owe

i O h l l h d i f hi i hDaggett, CA 92327 meetings Once the local growers saw the demonstration of this equipment they661-723-4483 meetings. Once the local growers saw the demonstration of this equipment, they 661-723-4483 became more inclined to adopt it Growers are beginning to realize the benefit ofbecame more inclined to adopt it. Growers are beginning to realize the benefit of using this technology to schedule crop irrigations to maximize yields and reduceWestern SARE Grant: $6 285 using this technology to schedule crop irrigations to maximize yields and reduce Western SARE Grant: $6,285 g gy p g y

t, water use.Grant Poole checks soil moisture levels through in-field monitors

Situation:Grant Poole checks soil moisture levels through in-field monitors.

Situation:

D l d i l l hi h M j Hi h D fDevelopment and agriculture are clashing over water on the Mojave High Desert of Grant Poole left chats withDevelopment and agriculture are clashing over water on the Mojave High Desert of Grant Poole, left, chats with Southern California Agriculture has thrived for 100 years in this area producing producer-cooperator JoeSouthern California. Agriculture has thrived for 100 years in this area, producing producer cooperator Joe

H t Soil moisture at the 1-, 2-, and 4-foot depths fromalfalfa tree fruit and vegetable crops At the same time people are moving to the Harter. Soil moisture at the 1 , 2 , and 4 foot depths from

J 26 2004 t O t 5 2004 i th ldalfalfa, tree fruit, and vegetable crops. At the same time, people are moving to the Jan. 26, 2004, to Oct. 5, 2004, in a three-year-old less expensive High Desert from Los Angeles and lawsuits have resulted in the alfalfa field under center pivot output = 11less expensive High Desert from Los Angeles, and lawsuits have resulted in the alfalfa field under center pivot, output 11

/p g g ,

t il t f d i i ti t tl d f l h d gpm/ac. curtailment of producer irrigation water, mostly drawn from poorly recharged gpcurtailment of producer irrigation water, mostly drawn from poorly recharged dgroundwater systems R ltgroundwater systems. Results:

Area growers are increasingly conscious of conserving water to save energy andArea growers are increasingly conscious of conserving water to save energy and g g y g gyi t G d t d l ti titi f t d i d We learned that in the first year of alfalfa stand establishment it is necessary to installpumping costs. Groundwater depletion, competition for water, and increased We learned that in the first year of alfalfa stand establishment it is necessary to install pu p g cos s. G ou dwa e dep e o , co pe o o wa e , a d c easedi b h M j Hi h D lf lf l i h an additional sensor 6 inches deep The 4 foot sensor dried to 33 centibars duringpumping expenses behoove Mojave High Desert alfalfa growers to apply water with an additional sensor 6 inches deep. The 4-foot sensor dried to -33 centibars during pumping expenses behoove Mojave High Desert alfalfa growers to apply water with p g

J l h th t t hi heven greater care with the aid of soil sensors to monitor soil moisture July when the crop water use rates were high.even greater care with the aid of soil sensors to monitor soil moisture. y p gSoil moisture at the 8 and 20 inch depths from

W l l d th t b il diti id l ithi fi ld it iSoil moisture at the 8- and 20-inch depths from

We also learned that because soil conditions can vary widely within a field, it is May through September 2004 in drip-irrigatedWe also learned that because soil conditions can vary widely within a field, it is May through September 2004 in drip irrigated i l d M h 16important to place the sensors in a location that is representative of the entire field onions planted March 16.important to place the sensors in a location that is representative of the entire field. p

When using electrical resistance blocks in the local Cajon sandy loam soils the soilWhen using electrical resistance blocks in the local Cajon sandy loam soils, the soil surrounding the sensor may need to be amended with a loamy sand soil with bettersurrounding the sensor may need to be amended with a loamy sand soil with better g y y

t d ti it t d t il t t d t diwater conductivity to ensure good sensor-to-soil contact and accurate readings.wate co duct v ty to e su e good se so to so co tact a d accu ate ead gs.

In alfalfa there was enough moisture throughout the season with applications rates ofIn alfalfa, there was enough moisture throughout the season with applications rates of Objectives: 11 12 gallons per minute per acre The sensors show however that water can beObjectives: 11-12 gallons per minute per acre. The sensors show, however, that water can be j g p p

d b li i ti t li ti i th i d f ll hconserved by eliminating some water applications in the spring and fall when Implement a soil moisture monitoring program with growers in the Mohave High

y g pp p gi i dImplement a soil moisture-monitoring program with growers in the Mohave High moisture is adequate.p g p g g g moisture is adequate.

Desert to:Desert to:d The soil moisture monitoring data in onions show that there can be significant1 Conserve groundwater The soil moisture monitoring data in onions show that there can be significant 1. Conserve groundwater

moisture loss under drip irrigation below the onion root zone with long irrigation sets2 R d ff d l hi d i l h i f i

moisture loss under drip irrigation below the onion root zone with long irrigation sets. 2 Reduce runoff and leaching detrimental to the environment from overwatering Irrigation sets were shortened and the intervals increased to keep soil moisture more2. Reduce runoff and leaching detrimental to the environment from overwatering Irrigation sets were shortened and the intervals increased to keep soil moisture more 3 I d ti it d ti i i i ti li ti

g pt bl Th h d th t i i t t th fifth d i th l f3. Increase productivity and optimize irrigation application stable. The sensors showed that onions increase water use at the fifth and sixth leaf3. Increase productivity and optimize irrigation application stable. The sensors showed that onions increase water use at the fifth and sixth leaf

i h hi i f i h bl k b4 P id d d ti t th di i lt l it stages With this information the grower cooperator was able to make better4. Provide resources and education to the surrounding agricultural community stages. With this information, the grower cooperator was able to make better 4. Provide resources and education to the surrounding agricultural communityassumptions of the water use and reduce applications to conserve water

5 P t th i d t i bilit f thi ti tiassumptions of the water use and reduce applications to conserve water.

5. Promote the expansion and sustainability of this conservation practicep y p