2005-06 Deliverables
Task 4 Research
Principal Investigator(s): Shad Nelson
- Continue the development of water conservation strategies for South Texas citrus production using flood, micro-spray and drip irrigation systems. Harvest for the 3rd year's cropping cycle will occur in January 2006 and results will be compared against 2003 and 2004 harvest and results available for Rio Grande Basin Initiative 2006 annual conference.
- Apply annual N and P fertilization treatments in combination with irrigation and compost applications to citrus trees to determine the fertility and irrigation requirements for citrus production under varying management strategies.
- Install twice as many (8) real-time soil moisture sensors and monitor rooting depth water-use over the 2005 growing season.
- Calculate amount of water saved and water use efficiency under the different irrigation systems and involve economic assessment of using water conservation strategies in citrus production.
- Provide data associated with these water management systems to stakeholders, extension agents, and scientific community through presentations and publications through association with the Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society.
- Present findings at 3rd Annual TAMUS Pathways to the Doctorate Symposium; and at the International Annual American Society of Agronomy meetings held in Salt Lake City, UT, Nov. 2006.
- Present results at annual Rio Grande Basin Initiative Conference to be held in 2006.
- Submit 2003 and 2004 harvest results in manuscript form to Subtropical Plant Science, Journal of the Rio Grande Valley Horticultural Society in 2005.