Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />000321 <br /> <br />IV. Legal, Institutional, Sociological and Environmental Constraints <br /> <br />There are no lega~ institutional, sociological or environmental constraints that would affect the successful <br />implementation of this demonstration project that can be identified by the Project Coordinator or the Principal <br />Investigators. <br /> <br />V. Methods of Dissemination of Demonstration Project Results <br /> <br />The progress and results of the demonstrations will be made available to the potential users and general public <br />through news releases in area and regional newspapers and radio spots on area radio stations. A field day and tour <br />of some of the projeCt sites will be conducted to allow the general public to see the irrigation application technology <br />and water table management with open and lor tile drains. The principal investigators, local participants and/or <br />technical advisors will give presentations of their areas of work and results available at the time. Also, a salinity <br />workshop will be held as part of the salinity mapping demonstration. <br /> <br />A final report will be assembled presenting results of the various phases of the project. <br /> <br />These findings and results will be submitted to related national societies' for presentation at their meetings and in <br />their journals. <br /> <br />VI. Innovative Features of the Project <br /> <br />Salinity Mapping Technology: Salinity problems start when previously non-saline soils become saline as a result <br />of irrigation. Salts begin to accumulate within the soil profile because all waters contain some dissolved salts. <br />The accumulation occurs when salts are left behind as crops take up water. With continued salt accumulation, <br />water becomes less available for plant growth, causing lower crop yields. <br /> <br />Salinity problems in fields are often difficult to spot before significant crop damage occurs. Typically, saline soils <br />are recognized by the presence of white crusting on the soil surface, spotty crop stands or by irregular plant growth. <br /> <br />Historically, field salinity problems have been assessed by taking soil samples and sending them to a laboratory <br />for analysis. There are several limitations to assessing salinity using this conventional technique. To effectively <br />sample a field, several hundred soil samples may be required, particularly for large fields. At 10 minutes per <br />sample, time investment in the field is substantial. Second, it is not uncommon for the cost of analysis to exceed <br />$25 per sample. Third, it is common for laboratory results to take weeks before information is received. Fourth, <br />conventional methods aren't conducive to returning to a field to check and monitor the effectiveness of any <br />management or structural practice on the salinity problem. <br /> <br />Techniques to provide inexpensive, accurate and detailed data for large areas will be demonstrated so growers can <br />get more effective diagnosis, management and monitoring of salinity conditions. <br /> <br />The Natural Resources Conservation Service in Colorado is currently acquiring and developing equipment and <br />instrumentation pattemed after the prototypes developed by the staff at the USDA-ARS U.S. Salinity Laboratory <br />in Riverside, Califomia. If this equipment and instrumentation becomes available, it will be demonstrated on these <br />sites. Salinity mapping can still be done using instrumentation developed at Riverside but will be done on foot <br />rather than by mobile units. <br /> <br />4 <br />