Impacts and Benefits of Polyacrylamide (PAM) on Irrigation Management, Soil Conservation, and Water Quality in Mid-South Cotton Production.

Arkansas is one of the leading states in irrigated acres. As such, resulting groundwater decline and irrigated-induced soil erosion can have negative impacts. This establishes a need for irrigation management practices to improve the irrigation efficiency as well as soil erosion and water quality conditions.  Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a high molecular weight chemical polymer that is highly water-absorbent. When combined with irrigation practices, the applied water has been found to stabilize the near surface particles to decrease potential soil erosion and improve runoff water quality.  The use of the polymer in the western United States agricultural areas has shown positive water retention results in furrow-irrigated systems. This research will describe the effect on soil erosion, water infiltration, movement of nutrients and sediments, and crop yields in cotton production typical of Northeast Arkansas. Treatments include no irrigation, irrigation without PAM and irrigation with PAM. The experiment was arranged as a randomized complete block with three replications. Multiple applications and forms of PAM will be applied to cotton throughout the growing season. Dry product will be applied at planting, followed by liquid product injected into irrigation water once monthly through cutout. This will provide the status of PAM application research in Mid-South cotton production areas with an emphasis on irrigation efficiency, soil conservation, and water quality through its application.