Guy Fipps, PhD, Principal InvestigatorChris Braden, PhD, Project Coordinator

Texas Cooperative ExtensionIrrigation Technology Center

http://itc.tamu.edu/

Rio Grande Basin InitiativesTask 2 Texas

Accomplishments 2005-2006

Irrigation Technology CenterIrrigation Technology Center

Tied to Texas A&M – San Antonio campusTied to Texas A&M – San Antonio campus Legislature must approve $80 million in Legislature must approve $80 million in

tuition revenue bonds in a special sessiontuition revenue bonds in a special session Special session to convene April 17, 2006Special session to convene April 17, 2006

The city must purchase the land for the The city must purchase the land for the proposed siteproposed site

New Landscape Irrigation New Landscape Irrigation Short CourseShort Course

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for Landscape IrrigationLandscape Irrigation Course OverviewCourse Overview

• Covers general use of GPS and how GPS can be Covers general use of GPS and how GPS can be applied to landscape irrigation systemsapplied to landscape irrigation systems

• Students will gain knowledge in general GPS use Students will gain knowledge in general GPS use and site mappingand site mapping

• 8 hour course offered in a computer classroom 8 hour course offered in a computer classroom setting with outdoor experiencesetting with outdoor experience

Course offering Summer 2006 in College Course offering Summer 2006 in College Station, TXStation, TX

Short Courses OfferedShort Courses Offered

Landscape Irrigation Auditing and Landscape Irrigation Auditing and Management Course (16 hour course)Management Course (16 hour course) El Paso, TX- November 3-4, 2005El Paso, TX- November 3-4, 2005

• 19 students19 students• 13 new certified landscape auditors13 new certified landscape auditors

Short Courses OfferedShort Courses Offered

Electrical Wiring and Safety for Landscape Electrical Wiring and Safety for Landscape Irrigation Course (8 hour course)Irrigation Course (8 hour course)

Weslaco, TX- August 25, 2005Weslaco, TX- August 25, 2005• 4 students4 students

El Paso, TX- offered course, no student El Paso, TX- offered course, no student enrollmentenrollment

Texas ET WebsiteTexas ET Websitehttp://texaset.tamu.edu/http://texaset.tamu.edu/

Recalculated average ETo (PET) and rainfall Recalculated average ETo (PET) and rainfall rates for 21 cities in Texas rates for 21 cities in Texas

http://texaset.tamu.edu/pet.phphttp://texaset.tamu.edu/pet.phphttp://texaset.tamu.edu/rainfall.phphttp://texaset.tamu.edu/rainfall.php

Website usesWebsite uses Irrigation scheduling by irrigatorsIrrigation scheduling by irrigators Water budgeting and planning by state agenciesWater budgeting and planning by state agencies City water conservation departmentsCity water conservation departments

Texas ET WebsiteTexas ET Website http://http://texaset.tamu.edutexaset.tamu.edu//

Customized Texas ET Website to allow users Customized Texas ET Website to allow users to enter their profile and receive customized to enter their profile and receive customized irrigation watering recommendations irrigation watering recommendations via emailvia email

User can set up profiles forUser can set up profiles for Landscape sitesLandscape sites Agriculture sitesAgriculture sites

http://texaset.tamu.edu/date.php?stn=sagc2&shttp://texaset.tamu.edu/date.php?stn=sagc2&spread=14pread=14

Rainout ShelterRainout Shelter Design and build a retractable 5,000 ft2

shelter as a barrier to rain to maintain a continual 60-day drought recovery for turf cultivars on two soil profiles

Purpose is to have sound scientific research supporting new San Antonio ordinances Plant grasses to survive a 60-day drought Requires at least 4 in of soil where they plant

grasses at residential or commercial sites

This is the research site for the rainout shelter with 2 parallel concrete beams to support the future roof structure.

Illustration of rainout shelter tracking system:

I-beam

Welding tabs

Angle iron

Caster wheels

C-channel

For more information on the ITC Rainout Shelter, see my poster.

Evapotranspiration (ET) Smart Evapotranspiration (ET) Smart ControllersControllers

ET Controllers installed into residential ET Controllers installed into residential sites to compare how effectively they sites to compare how effectively they operate and set up irrigation schedulesoperate and set up irrigation schedules

Action plan, participation screening, Action plan, participation screening, surveys, and evaluation forms have been surveys, and evaluation forms have been createdcreated

Turf Irrigation and Nutrient Turf Irrigation and Nutrient Management Reference ManualManagement Reference Manual

Reference manual B-6165 published December Reference manual B-6165 published December 2005 by Texas Cooperative Extension 2005 by Texas Cooperative Extension

Irrigation Water Management (Dr. Fipps, author)Irrigation Water Management (Dr. Fipps, author) Predicting turf water requirementsPredicting turf water requirements Accounting for rainfallAccounting for rainfall Determining irrigation frequencyDetermining irrigation frequency Determining station runtimesDetermining station runtimes Determining precipitation rateDetermining precipitation rate

Thank YouThank You