Hello winter99,
And thank you for your question.
I started searching google with soybean irrigation +minnesota and
quickly was lead to the University of Minnesota site "Just for
Growers" and specifically, the Minnesota Soybean Production website at
http://www.soybeans.umn.edu/home.htm .
The site did not have a search mechanism and I was unable to uncover
any information or links to irrigation. However, they do have a
section called "Ask the Expert" and listed a contact for any
information regarding soybeans. I called the listed Ph.D., who is
listed as a member as follows( I have omitted his name and phone, but
it can be found on this site):
Dept of Agronomy & Plant Genetics
411 Borlaug Hall
1991 Upper Buford Cr.
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN 55108
While awaiting his return call, I tried another listed expert, a
professor in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. I also will
await his return call. Should either of these experts reply to me with
valuable information for you, I will post my findings as additional
comments below.
I then followed the section on publications and came across "The
Minnesota Soybean Field Guide" at
http://www.soybeans.umn.edu/pdfs/FieldBook.pdf , The Fieldbook for
Soybean Growers in Adobe .pdf format. Page 33, entitled "Irrigation
Management for Soybeans" first details the watering requirments for
soybeans in a variety of Minnesota soils and notes that:
"Soybeans will use at least 14 to 18 inches of soil-water per season
depending on maturity group and climatic conditions...
Supplemental sprinkler irrigation in central Minnesota is most
feasible for many crops when grown on soils that have 4 inches of
available water holding capacity (AWHC) or less in the active root
zone. To be effective during the drier years, a center pivot sprinkler
system should have a pumping capacity of at least 6 gallons per minute
per acre under irrigation.
...this should be increased if on droughty soils or if the system can
not operate at least 22 hours per day."
So we now have a type and recommended performance criteria of a
soybean irrigation system used in Central Minnesota. This report
continues on with some very detailed and very specific information in
the following chapter on "Irrigation Strategy". This document is
extensive and will probably answer any Minnesota related soybean
question you might have.
At http://www3.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2002/SprinklerIrrigation.html
, I found an interesting announcement for a reference book on
irrigation systems:
"May 29, 2002
Book on sprinkler irrigation available from U of M
"Sprinkler Irrigation Systems," a book with detailed information on
irrigation technology, is now available through the University of
Minnesota. It was developed by MidWest Plan Service, a cooperative
organization representing 12 Midwest land grant universities.
The book is designed for agricultural and horticultural crop producers
and consultants, engineers, equipment dealers, government agency
employees, educators, students and others interested in irrigation
technology. It can serve as a planning tool, reference guide and
manual on the design, development and management of sprinkler
irrigation systems.
The book includes information to help determine water needs and to
establish a minimum recommended system capacity. There is also a
discussion on water supply evaluation and fitting types of sprinklers
to specific needs."
"The book's final chapter provides examples of step-by-step planning
and design for different sprinkler irrigation systems. It includes
designs for a center-pivot system with a well, a traveler system for
irrigated pasture and a system for a small acreage producing
horticultural crops.
The book contains over 110 photographs and illustrations and
approximately 70 tables that help organize technical data.
"Sprinkler Irrigation Systems" is designated as MWPS-30. It costs $20
per single copy plus sales tax and shipping and handling. For ordering
information, call (612) 625-9733, e-mail mwps@gaia.bae.umn.edu or go
to http://www.bae.umn.edu/extens/mwps on the Internet."
Should you desire information at this depth, this book details choices
of sprinkler systems based on both specific needs and sources and
quality of water supply.
An interesting quote from
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/biotech/soybean.html , the USDA
Department of Agriculture, follows:
"Soybeans are grown in United States agriculture as monocultures of
rowcrops for sale to off-farm processors. Seed is generally pure lines
for each field, although blends of two or more lines are sometimes
planted (Johnson, 1987). The plants are usually inoculated with
Bradyrhizobium cultures (Harper, 1987; Jordan, 1982). Clean tillage
has been the traditional method of field preparation, but recently no
tillage and reduced tillage systems have become more common.
Irrigation is not usually practiced (Van Doren and Reicosky, 1987)"
Interesting that they note irrigation is not a usual practice in
growing soybeans. However, at
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/plantsci/rowcrops/a250w.htm North
Dakota State University on a page devoted to soybeans, they state:
"The need for a long growing season and satisfactory soil moisture
during flowering and pod filling may limit the westward expansion in
the state with present varieties. However, soybean should be
considered in the rotation when irrigation water is available."
So there is either a difference of opinion on the requirements of
irrigation or a significant difference on the need depending on
location of the crops.
An article on Power Buys I found at
http://soybeandigest.com/ar/soybean_power_buys_12/index.htm , Soybean
Digest, says:
"The Greenfield center pivot and pivoting lateral move irrigation
systems from Lindsay Manufacturing, Lindsay, NE, are designed for
smaller fields.
The center pivots irrigate up to 60 acres and can be customized by
span length, overhang and endgun options. The pivoting lateral move
systems irrigate up to 80 acres by making an 180 turn at the end of a
run.
Both systems have minimal wheel tracking and use only 24-volt
circuitry and 90-volt DC motors.
Sprayer Over 42" of crop clearance and 35+ mph road speed are featured
in the Apache Plus from Equipment Technologies, Mooresville, IN.
Designed to run in troublesome conditions, such as slopes and mucky
fields, the sprayer offers adjustable axles, 60-100' boom lengths and
increased product capacity with its 850-gallon tank. The Hydra-Glide
six-speed, powershift transmission provides hydrostatic convenience
with mechanical control reliability. A spacious cab and Hydra-Ride
suspension are designed for operator comfort."
So, here is an example of a center pivot sprinkler system recommended
for soybeans. Lindsay Manufacturing can be found at
http://www.lindsaymanufacturing.com/ .
And finally, I found
http://www.vaes.vt.edu/tidewater/soybean/soyproduction/soyguide.html#L9
, a "2001 SOYBEAN PRODUCTION GUIDE" for the Virginia Agricultural
Experiment Station that, although not specific to Minnesota, states:
"While drought resistant properties of soybeans generally rule out the
use of irrigation exclusively, many irrigation systems purchased for
other crops, such as corn, may be used on soybeans if warranted. As is
the case with most crops, there are critical times during the growth
of the soybean plant that a soil moisture deficit can severely limit
yields and/or diminish quality."
So that there appears to be some flexibility in types of irrigation
equipment used for soybeans.
I hope this information has been informative for you. Should I receive
a reply from the experts in Minnesota, I will be sure to post an
additional comment. If any of the above answer is unclear, please ask
for clarification.
Best regards,
-=clouseau-ga=- |
