[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.22.7″][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/pierce1.jpg” title_text=”pierce1″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ animation_style=”fade”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_image][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22.7″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.6.5″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-30px||-75px|||” custom_padding=”1px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”25px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n
When you eat a handful of roasted peanuts, how often do you think about the\u00a0<\/span>irrigation<\/span>\u00a0system<\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0may have<\/span>\u00a0helped the peanut plants\u00a0<\/span>grow?<\/span>\u00a0The answer is\u00a0<\/span>probably\u00a0<\/span><\/span>not<\/span>\u00a0too often<\/span><\/span>. But for the farmers who grow those peanuts, the functionality of that irrigation system\u00a0<\/span>is always on their\u00a0<\/span>minds and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>could mean the differ<\/span>ence\u00a0<\/span>between a good and bad growing season.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Brenda Ortiz, Extension Specialist and Professor with the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, undergraduate Pierce McClendon, and the precision agriculture lab team are on a mission to provide irrigation-related resources to farmers to reduce crop yield loss, energy, and water usage.<\/span><\/p>\n McClendon, a native of Priceville, Alabama, began in the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences as an undergraduate research assistant in 2020 for Dr. Eve Brantley. McClendon was encouraged to pursue a summer internship with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. His advisor put him in touch with Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) Director Dr. Mike Philips, who suggested he contact Dr. Brenda Ortiz to get involved with her ongoing irrigation research.<\/span><\/p>\n During the summer of 2020, McClendon joined Dr. Ortiz\u2019s lab to collect samples, install soil sensors, and speak with farmers about irrigation issues. His first day on the job involved installing a Trellis Watermark sensor (pictured above), which measures how hard a plant needs to work to access water in the surrounding soil.<\/span><\/p>\n McClendon\u2019s primary interests are the irrigation of peanuts, corn, and cotton, specifically when and how much irrigation to apply to the crops. Some of his research involves determining the effects of precision irrigation application on crop yield and water use.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/aaes.auburn.edu\/wrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/08\/pierce2.jpg” title_text=”pierce2″ _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n The research team chats with farmers at a farmer focus group in Samson, AL.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.6″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”]<\/p>\n \u00a0In previous years, the research group focused on training farmers in Alabama to use soil moisture sensor data to apply variable rate irrigation (VRI) in their fields. This type of irrigation allows farmers to vary water application depending on soil, crop, and other conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n Over the summer, the team hosted several farmer focus groups that brought together local Extension agents and specialists, farmers, crop consultants, and other research personnel to facilitate discussions around effective and sustainable irrigation, as it is imperative these groups can identify the most common problems in the operation and maintenance of center pivot irrigation systems.<\/span><\/p>\n \n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.4″ _module_preset=”default”]<\/p>\n “Being involved with agriculture has changed McClendon\u2019s perspective on water resources issues in Alabama. A big problem facing farmers is runoff, which can cause nutrient loss and soil degradation.<\/span><\/p>\n The opportunity allowed him to conduct research and assist with the Extension publication, \u201cOperation & Maintenance Problems of Center Pivot Irrigation<\/a>,\u201d which discusses the economic and environmental impacts of faulty irrigation systems. The publication highlights common problems with center pivot irrigation, how to identify them, and how to correct them.<\/span><\/p>\n