Following are brief descriptions of particular projects and programs. The reader is referred to the indicated person for details, results, or plans for the activities. Many programs are multidisciplinary and involve many personnel. Only one or two names are listed as a starting contact. As mentioned above, the activities are associated with current efforts. This listing is not alphabetical, and is not in any priority order.

A. Water Resources Management/Improved Water Use

1. Storm water:

• Development of interactive activities to address reservoir and storm water management for the increased water volume in the system. Macie, J. L.

2. Irrigation Systems (Agricultural, Commercial, Home):

a. Scheduling

• Development of improved irrigation scheduling/water use techniques for turfgrasses via improved crop coefficients, infrared thermometry, and cultivation methods. Carrow, R. N., R. R. Duncan, et al. Preliminary Results indicate that a) species and cultivars can differ appreciably in their water requirements and, therefore, their crop coefficients; b) deep cultivation methods on turfgrasses grown on kaolinitic soils can improve water use efficiency; c) infrared thermometry for irrigation scheduling has potential for cool season but not warm season grasses and; d) crop coefficients have been developed for many turfgrasses.
• Improving irrigation scheduling for major row crops, including corn, peanut, cotton, soybean, and wheat. Development of techniques, including both very simple and very advanced devices that simplify the job of scheduling water for the farmer. Refining our understanding of capacity of Georgia soils to take in rain, store water, and supply it to crops. Hook, J. E., et al. Ongoing research is illustrating the need to manage subsoil moisture for effective season-long water management, and has defined the yield losses resulting from cuts in limited water availability during selected growth periods.
• Incorporating new irrigation application equipment, including precision application and drip irrigation, into management systems that will effectively fit Georgia's soils, landscape, and drainage patterns to minimize waste of applied water. Perry, C. D., Pocknee, S, et al. New research being initiated in conjunction with on-going precision farming and model farm activities.
• Development and implementation of systems and training programs for scheduling irrigation for Georgia crops, soils and environmental conditions. Harrison, K. A., D. L. Thomas, et al. Current Results include the development of the UGA EASY Pan for scheduling sprinkler irrigation.

b. Models

• Development of computer models and decision support systems to maximize yield and net returns and minimize water use and natural resources. Hoogenboom, G., et al.
• Evaluation and development of model systems for analyzing crop water use characteristics across the ACT and ACF river basins in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Hook, J. E., et al. This Ongoing research has enabled the calculation of regional economic impact from various water management strategies, including suggested water use restrictions for row crops.

c. Facilities

• The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has extensive research and demonstration facilities for irrigation research. Replicated center pivots, linear move, subsurface and surface drip, solid set sprinkler, precision irrigation all with capabilities for replicated field plots are available in many campus locations. The new Stripling Irrigation Research Park (Mitchell Co., Georgia, Yager, R. et al.) is an example of new facilities to address local characteristics of irrigation water use. These facilities are being used to evaluate water use efficiency, irrigation losses, and other irrigation management impacts on plant water use.

3. Agricultural Production Enhancements:

a. Mulches

• Use of composted pecan shells as a surface mulch on containers to reduce water loss and improve weed control. Ruter, J. et al. New Project
• Management of crop residues and winter cover on soil surfaces minimized the formation of hard surfaces in row crop land, enabling more effective capture of rainfall and reduction of direct evaporation from soil. Hook, J. E., D. E. Radcliffe, et al.

b. Cultivation

• Major types of turfgrass cultivation equipment have been evaluated for effectiveness in improving water use, rooting, and drought resistance of turfgrasses. Carrow, R. N.

c. Plants

• Evaluation of the spatial variation in yield potential through plant available water storage capacity of soils. Kissel, D. E., et al. Preliminary Results indicate yield variations appeared due to spatial variation of available soil water storage capacity, differences in infiltration and side flow of water.
• Evaluation of row-crop tillage equipment for effectiveness in improving water use, rooting, and crop productivity. Hook, J. E.
• Examination of the physiological responses of commercial cotton cultivars to soil water deficit events of different durations and intensities, including responses to re-watering (recovery from drought stress), under controlled environment and field conditions. Earl, H., et al. New Project
• Examination of the physiological basis of known varietal differences in plant water use efficiency of soybean cultivars. Earl, H., et al. This is a New Project, but Preliminary Results indicate differences in leaf-level photosynthetic responses which may contribute to observed differences in water use efficiency.
• Development of the first truly southeastern adapted tall fescue with the genetically based root system to handle Georgia soils and environment. Duncan, R., et al. Preliminary Results indicate water usage will be about 50% of what is currently used on tall fescue in the state and drought resistance is superior for a new tall fescue submitted for release.
• Molecular mapping of genes associated with water use efficiency in cotton. Paterson, A., et al. This New Project has identified critical genetic components in cotton which will be essential to the enhancement of water use efficiency in cotton plants. Preliminary Results indicate strong potential to create plants which may use less water or use available water more efficiently in cotton production.
• Genetic and molecular analysis of grain sorghum genome for enhancement of production under water deficit. Paterson, A., et al. New Project
• Exploring the gene repertoire of Opuntia cacti, which is cultivated in some parts of the world as a fruit and vegetable crop that requires less than 10" of rain per year to make a crop. Paterson, A., et al. New Project
• Peanut water use impacts on yield and crop response. Williams, J. H., et al.

4. Monitoring:

• Monitoring of weather conditions across the state of Georgia for potential water use. Hoogenboom, G. Current Applications include the implementation of the Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring System which includes at least 44 weather stations across the state of Georgia. This up-to-date weather data is readily accessible via the world wide web (www.Georgiaweather.net) .
• Evaluation of the use of satellite image analysis to locate center pivot irrigation systems in Crisp County. West, L. T., et al. Preliminary Results indicate different numbers of agricultural water withdrawal permits in Crisp Co. as compared to the Dept. of Natural Resources Data Base.
• Evaluation of water use and improved efficiency alternatives for animal production systems in Georgia. Baker, J. F., et al. New Project
• Evaluation of agricultural water use for the entire state of Georgia: The Ag. Water Pumping program. Wheeler, L., D. L. Thomas, et al. Current Activities include the monitoring of water use from over 580 individual fields (2% sample) across the state. This extensive team effort involves both monitoring and modeling over the project life.
• Evaluation of agricultural water use from ground water within the lower Flint River basin: Ag. Water Pumping II. Hook, J. E., et al. Current Activities include the monitoring of ground water use via automated technology from nearly 200 sites in sub area 4 (lower Flint River). This extensive team effort involves primarily monitoring over the project life.
• Evaluation of the ionic concentration of rainfall for potential impact on plant diseases. Walker, J. T., et al. Preliminary Results indicate that the ionic constituents of precipitation do differ between locations within the agricultural region of Georgia which can affect crop growth and potential for crop disease.

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