Monitoring Water Use by Carrot-Seed Crops in Central Oregon

Project ID: 68-3A75-4-101-28

Federal Agency: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Partner Institution: Oregon State University

Fiscal Year: 2008

Initial Funding: $11,108

Total Funding: $11,108

Project Type: Technical Assistance

Project Disciplines: Biological

Principal Investigator: Duggan, Brian

Agreement Technical Representative: Graham, Bob

Abstract: This project is designed to compare the water use and level of soil oxygen deprivation for hybrid carrot seed crops in central Oregon using sprinkler and drip-tape irrigation. It will be useful information to the NRCS in their endeavors to reduce water use on irrigated crops in central Oregon. This will help study the effects of drip and sprinkler irrigation upon carrot seed germination percentage, yield, and yield composition. Finally as part of the carrot seed germination research project, the use of water sensors will give insight into why it is that carrot seed crops grown using drip irrigation appear to have higher yield and greater germination than those grown under sprinkler irrigation systems. NRCS will work with OSU on using the information gathered.