The project was made possible by the combined efforts of several agencies, individuals, and businesses. Determine whether yield and forage quality can be maintained or increased using SDI on alfalfa while consuming less water. Determine whether SDI on alfalfa in Nevada requires special management strategies regarding soil salts. Determine the overall applicability of SDI to agriculture in Nevada. Determine whether SDI is an economically viable option and how it can be applied in Nevada.
Individual farmers use a level border system to apply the water to their fields.
The border irrigation system was used to germinate the crop in this project. The soil type at the project site is Sonoma Silt Loam. However, there is a substantial amount of clay in the soil. At field capacity Sonoma Silt Loam holds approximately 4.1 inches of water per foot of soil, and 2.9 inches of water at 50 percent available water depletion. In the nine plots on the west end of the field Netafim Typhoon dripperline is buried at 18 inches in depth and spaced 36 inches apart.