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** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** IRRIGATED AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS IN THE U.S. ARE AMONG THE MOST PRODUCTIVE IN THE WORLD. HOWEVER, DIMINISHING WATER SUPPLIES AND NUTRIENT POLLUTION THREATEN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF MORE THAN 50 MILLION ACRES OF IRRIGATED FARMLAND IN THE U.S. THE PROPOSED INTEGRATED RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND EXTENSION PROJECT DEVELOPS, PILOTS, AND BROADLY DISSEMINATES AN INTEGRATION SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY TO HELP PRODUCERS MAKE SMART IRRIGATION WATER AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT CHOICES TO IMPROVE YIELD, CONSERVE WATER, AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. WHILE IN-SITU, REMOTELY SENSED, AND DRONE DATA PRODUCTS ARE INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE, THEIR USE REMAINS SILOED DUE TO LACK OF INTEGRATION CAPACITY. THE USE OF PARTIAL INFORMATION OFTEN LEADS TO INCOMPLETE ASSESSMENTS AND POTENTIALLY ERRONEOUS DECISIONS. THE PROPOSED SOFTWARE ASSIMILATES INTERCONNECTED SOIL MOISTURE, EVAPOTRANSPIRATION, AND CANOPY MEASUREMENTS USING SCIENCE-GUIDED MACHINE LEARNING AND PROCESS-BASED MODELING TO CREATE INSIGHT THAT SUPPORTS ROBUST DECISIONS. PRODUCERS OFTEN RECONCILE MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE SHORT-TERM PROFITS (LIKE YIELD AND COSTS) WITH THOSE THAT SUPPORT LONG-TERM RESILIENCE (LIKE SOIL HEALTH AND WATER QUALITY).THE PROPOSED SOFTWARE ENABLES PRODUCERS TO EXPLORE TRADEOFFS AMONG THESE FACTORS, THUS FOSTERING SMART, DATA-DRIVEN, AND INTEGRATED IRRIGATION AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS. SPECIFIC DECISIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTED BY THE SOFTWARE INCLUDE VARIABLE RATE IRRIGATION APPLICATION, FULL AND DEFICIT IRRIGATION STRATEGIES, AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION. WHILE COMPLEXITY AND UNCERTAINTY ARE COMPREHENSIVELY REPRESENTED IN THE SOFTWARE, ITS DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS CO-DESIGN ACTIVITIES WITH KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN COLORADO AND NEW MEXICO TO ENSURE THAT ITS USES ARE IMPACTFUL FOR THE TARGET AUDIENCES. EXTENSIVE EXTENSION AND EDUCATION EFFORTS PROMOTE THE SOFTWARE IN THE STUDY AREAS AND NATIONALLY.

$740,000FY2024National Institute of Food and AgricultureUSDA

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators

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