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<br />000517 <br />. . <br /> <br />Demonstration of Best Management Practices (BMPs) <br />to Improve Crop Yields, Returns and Water Quality in the <br />Arkansas River Valley of Colorado <br />Phase II <br /> <br />Progress Report <br />September 15, 1999 <br /> <br />Surface drainage work on the Holly Drain is still on hold, since June 30, until the new contract is <br />signed and money is available but the effects of cleaning the drainage ditch on water levels in the <br />observation wells continues to be seen, Even with 5,85 inches of rainfall during August, above <br />average flow in the Arkansas River near the Holly Drain Ditch and irrigation of fields. the water <br />table in the Scheck observation well, which was at 5,71 feet before the cleaning of the drain <br />ditch, is still at 8,58 feet below the soil surface, Flows in the Arkansas River have ranged from <br />about 2900 down to 580 cfs during August (Fig, I) with above average rainfall in El Paso, Pueblo <br />and Otero Counties still sending water to John Martin Reservoir, These flows resulted in John <br />Martin Reservoir spilling again from August 8 through August 20, Even under these conditions, <br />cleaning of the Holly Drain Ditch resulted in lower water tables in the fields adjacent to the drain, <br /> <br />Third harvest was completed August 20 on alfalfa at the Paul Frank center pivot demonstration <br />area comparing low drift nozzles with drag hoses, Twelve subplots were harvested in each of the <br />two areas and the sprinkled area averaged 2,19 tons per acre with a Relative Feed Value (RFV) of <br />196,9 while the drag hose area averaged 2,10 tons per acre with a RFV of 206.5 , Total yield for <br />the three cuttings on the sprinkler area is 6,02 tons per acre with an average RFV of 166,5 while <br />on the drag hose area the yield is 5,90 tons per acre with an average RFV of 174,2, Above <br />average rainfall has reduced the need for irrigation and only minimum amounts of water have been <br />applied, Water quality remains higher than average due to the above average flow in the River <br />such as the spilling of John Martin, <br /> <br />Drag hoses continue to be a benefit to prevent additional wheel tracking on the pivot since water <br />is not being sprinkled in the wheel track Water is not being pushed ahead of the wheel as on the <br />sprinkler area and this has definitely reduced wheel tracking, The wheel track areas where drag <br />hoses are being used are dry in front of the wheel except on very sloping areas when some of the <br />water runs into the track area, <br /> <br />Due to the exceptional rains of early to mid-August, the forage sorghum on the Sub McGee surge <br />irrigation demonstration was not irrigated during August. Well-timed rains during the entire <br />growing season have eliminated the need for irrigation and it appears that the forage sorghum will <br />not be irrigated this year as harvest should begin some time in mid-September, <br /> <br />Cory Thompson completed irrigation on his corn PAM demonstration the week of August 16 and <br />water samples were collected as applied and as runoff from both untreated and the PAM treatcd <br />areas, The corn will be harvested as 28 to 32% high moisture com. Calvin Melcher has agreed to <br />furnish a weigh wagon to obtain the yields on the areas with the different treatments, <br />