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Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. aTD388 A1U65 . JSDA ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT WATER CONSERVATION LABORATORY U.S. 1998 oserva o ^0 9 0' ^°en/x, Arte USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE - Phoenix, Arizona ANNUAL RESEARCH REPORT 1998 U WATER CONSERVATION LABORATORY S. U.S. Department ofAgriculture Agricultural Research Service 4331 E. Broadway Road Phoenix, Arizona 85040 Telephone: (602) 379-4356 FAX: (602) 379-4355 E-mail: bclemmens@uswcl ars.ag.gov . Website: www.uswcl.ars.ag.gov Thisreportcontainspublishedandunpublishedinformationconcerningworkinprogress. Theunpublishedcontents ofthisreportmaynotbepublishedorreproducedinanyformwithoutthepriorconsentofthescientificresearchstaff involved. Trade names and companynames areincludedforthebenefitofthe reader and do not constitute an endorsementby theU.S. Department ofAgriculture. l TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction iii 2. Dedication iv 3. Laboratory Program History 1 Organizational Structure 2 Mission 2 Laboratory Management 3 Laboratory Support Services (facilities and staff) 4 Outreach Program 7 Safety 9 USWCL Students at 10 4. Irrigation & Water Quality (I&WQ) Management Unit Organization 11 Mission 11 Professional Staff 12 Irrigated Farm Management Laboratory 14 Irrigated Farm Management 15 Water Project Management 35 5. Environmental & Plant Dynamics (E&PD) Management Unit Organization 60 Mission 60 Professional Staff 61 Plant Growth and Water Use as Affected by Elevated C0 2 and Other Environmental Variables 63 Farm Management Decision Support Using a Remote Sensing and Modeling Approach 106 Quantitative Remote Sensing Approaches for Monitoring and Managing Agricultural Resources 122 Germplasm Improvement and Agronomic Development ofNew Alternative Industrial Crops 136 6. Publications 158 7. Technology Transfer / Weekly Reports 165 8. Support Staff 174 9. Cooperators 176 li ' INTRODUCTION 1998 was a year of significant change at the U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory. We were saddened by the departure ofA1 Dedrick after 25 years at the laboratory, the last 8 as director. At the same time, we arepleased that he is now serving as Associate Deputy Administrator forNatural Resources and Sustainable Agricultural Systems at ARS Headquarters inBeltsville, Maryland. We knowthat ARS will benefit immensely from having A1 inthat position. BruceKimball stepped in as acting director for the first halfofthe year and did an admirablejob ofkeeping us on course. Over the past few years, A1 Dedrick motivated us to get in closer touch with our clients and customers. This perspective will help us greatly in planning our research for the future. A1 has also broughtthisfocustotheNationalProgram Staff, wherewe are seeing major changes inthewayARS organizesitsresearchprograms. Webelievethattheresultwillbemore cooperation, bothwithinand outside ofARS, and more relevant research here at the U.S. Water Conservation Lab. Bob Rice retired atthe end ofSeptember after almost 40 years at the laboratory. Hewas hired upon graduationfrom Colorado State University and was one ofthe first scientists at the laboratoryback in 1959. We wish him and his wife Jo Ann well. LloydMyers, thelaboratory’sfirst director, died onDecember21, 1998. We owe adebtofgratitude to Lloyd for establishing the laboratory’s tradition of excellence. Lloyd instituted an open, cooperative, enthusiastic atmospherethatpersiststoday and makesthis laboratory an excellentplace We to work. thank him. Water conservation is an immense challenge. It is so broad and so critical to society both here and abroad that the opportunities for positively impacting both science and practice are almost limitless. With our present funding and staff, we are able to tackle only a few aspects of this problem. However, the laboratory should be proud ofits long history ofproducing meaningful and useful research results. Ourjob is to identifythose areas ofresearchthat are most critical to the long-term sustainability and enhancement ofmodem society. While water is a renewable natural resource, it is also a limited one, and one upon which the entire planet depends for its survival. In the last century, once abundant water resources have become over-allocated by an ever growing population. We can only imagine the critical water problems we will face ifthis trend continues for another century. But whatever that scenario, science will play a key role in helping society find the appropriate balance between the environment and human needs. That is our challenge. Bert Clemmens Director in ' ' i!