The Limited Irrigation Research Farm in Northern Colorado – Irrigation Plot Research Methods, Design Considerations, and Limitations.

The Limited Irrigation Research Farm (LIRF) is located near Greeley Colorado, in a semi-arid region where maize is the predominant crop. The site has been in agricultural water research for over 100 years, and since 2008 has been involved in research of deficit or limited irrigation of crops, in an effort to maintain high crop yields while saving water through reduced evapotranspiration (ET). To accurately monitor water balance, surface and subsurface pressurized drip irrigation are the primary irrigation application methods. This presentation will highlight some of the data collection efforts underway in this regard, including reference ET monitoring, soil water content via neutron probe meters and time domain reflectometry, irrigation systems and automation, water balance techniques, as well as physiological and remote sensing efforts. Practical considerations and limitations of experimental design will be discussed, such as collecting several overlapping datasets on limited space and time, balance between agronomic limitations and research needs, and adjustment to unforeseen circumstances such as weather.