Acknowledgements Justin Dulaney (Coahoma Co.) Earl Kline (Bolivar Co.) Collier Tillman (Leflore Co.) Buddy Allen (Tunica Co.) Kirk Satterfield (Bolivar Co.) Tim Walker (MS DREC) Shane Powers (YMD) Lyle Pringle (MSU DREC) Jim Thomas (MSU ABE ret.) MAFES MS Rice Promotion Board MS Water Resources Research Institute YMD Collaborators Support

On-Farm Trials Intermittent Rice Irrigation 6 Clearfield rice varieties using 4 reps per variety. Planted at the top (alternating wet-dry) and bottom (~continuous flood) of paddy. 150 lbs N per A applied. Yield and milling quality. Water use and pumping pattern. Rainfall Varietal Response

Rice On-Farm Variety x Intermittent Irrigation Trials Average Yield (lbs/A) EntryTop of PaddyBottom of Paddyp-value (N=12) CL11111,03010, CL1319,9748, CL14211,21010, CL15111,48210, CL1819,2358, CLXL74512,11211, Global Comparison10,76910, (N=82)(N=84)

2010 Variety x Intermittent Irrigation Trial Clay soil w/ 5 wet-drying cycles using 23 A-in/A VarietyTop of Paddy (int flood) Bottom of Paddy (cont flood) Type III Pr > F Rice Yield (lb/A) dry ,5489, Bowman9,8389, CL11110,85011, CL1319,1429, CL14211,60510, CL15111,42810, CL1819,5889, CLX74512,38611, Cheniere10,57610, Cocodrie10,79610, Neptune10,3969, Rex10,4819, Taggart11,48610, Templeton11,0839, XL72312,80912, Rice yields were either unaffected (p > 0.05) or slightly higher (p < 0.05) for the plots subjected to intermittent flooding.

Rice On-Farm Variety x Intermittent Irrigation Trials YearWet-Dry Cycles Irrigation Added (A-in) Rainfall (A-in) Total (A-in) Avg.6 ± 220 ± 37 ± 427 ± 6

Pringle (1994) How much water does rice actually need? Depending on soil and cultivar, rice needs ~14 to 25 A-in/A water per 80-day flood in Mississippi. SoilInches per 80-d Flood Sharkey1.2 Alligator1.2 Forestdale3.3 Brittain3.6 Avg. Deep Percolation Losses VarietyMeasured ET (inches) Rosemont12.8 ± 3.0 Maybelle13.6 ± 1.7 Newbonnet15.7 ± 2.2 Lemont16.7 ± 2.1 Avg. Evapo- Transpiration Losses 1991 rainfall was 66.5% of avg rainfall was 97.9% of avg. ET was linearly-related to biomass production

Potential Water Savings

YMD (2009) 6-yr average water use in Mississippi rice production Pringle (1994): Water Use Requirements for Rice in the MS Delta ~60,000 A-ft savings if convert existing SL to Side-Inlet using 31 A-in For Existing Straight-Levee Rice

YMD (2009) 6-yr average water use in Mississippi rice production Pringle (1994): Water Use Requirements for Rice in the MS Delta ~109,000 A-ft savings if convert existing SL to Side-Inlet using 25 A-in For Existing Straight-Levee Rice 25

Conversion of All Straight Levee Acres to Optimized Side-Inlet If Convert From: To:Acres (1000s) Water Use Difference Potential H 2 O Savings (A-ft) Straight Levee SL + Side-Inlet avg use (31 A-in/A) A-ft59,900 Avg. SL + Side-Inlet (31 A-in/A) Optimized SL + Side Inlet (25- A-in/A) A-ft72,100 Total Potential Savings 132,000

Conversion of All Straight Levee Acres to Optimized Side-Inlet If Convert From: To:Acres (1000s) Water Use Difference Potential H 2 O Savings (A-ft) Straight Levee SL + Side-Inlet avg use (31 A-in/A) A-ft59,900 Avg. SL + Side-Inlet (31 A-in/A) Optimized SL + Side Inlet (25- A-in/A) A-ft72,100 Total Potential Savings 132,000 Value assumes pumping 25 A-in/A, not total that would include rainfall capture.

Average Water Use by Different MS Rice Irrigation Systems SL + Side Inlet + Intermittent 10-yr pumped Dulaney Seed

Average Water Use by Different MS Rice Irrigation Systems SL + Side Inlet + Intermittent 4-yr pumped Kline Farms

How to Facilitate?

Introduction to Side-Inlet Irrigation Training Video Completed Nov 2012 Free DVDs available Side-Inlet = Foundational Practice

Co-written and reviewed by farmers ‘It takes an experienced crew of three about one hour to lay one roll of tubing, install gates, punch air holes, and begin initial flood.’ Justin Dulaney Clarksdale, MS

Side-Inlet Video Available on DVD or On-Line

Info Sheet No Now Available infosheets_research/i1358. pdf

242 depth gauges built and distributed to farmers in infosheets_research/i1358. pdf

Gauges Help with Flood Management Top of Levee 4-in Freeboard for Rain Capture Top of Levee Emergency Overflow ~12-in Top of Gate 4-in Controlled Flood Maintain freeboard to maximize rainfall capture and to reduce runoff.

21 st Century Bin Busters Rice Harvest Competition Reward and Recognize Innovation Rice Harvest Competition Harvest Index: Bushels Produced / A-in H 2 O (pumped + rainfall)

Estimated Energy Used By Groundwater-Based Irrigation Systems per A-in Water Delivered StateDiesel (gallons) Electric (kWh) per Acre-in water pumped AR (Tacker) 138 LA (Sheffield) MO (Vories) MS (Thomas) Avg. 0.9 gal34 kWh Remind farmers that: For every inch of water not pumped, ~ 1 gallon/A diesel fuel is saved.

Remind Farmers that: Flow Meters are a valuable Management Tool Portable flow meter

$ Systematic Approach to Water and Energy Conservation in Irrigation of Row Crops Economics Agronomic Management Crop Breeding State/Federal Regulations Irrigation Technology

Row Rice Trial (N=1) Irrigation added: 39 A-in/A Days less than full-flood: 88 Rainfall received: 15 in Water-use index: 4.2 bu/A-in Yield: 165 bu/A (dry) Runoff