Grape growers in all regions of the state have expressed an interest in enhancing their knowledge in soil moisture monitoring, especially after the droughty 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. Dr. Guy Fipps, Extension Agricultural Engineer and Director of the Texas A&M Irrigation Technology Center is launching a series of vineyard irrigation workshops in collaboration with regional Extension viticulture advisors. The focus of these workshops will be on drip irrigation injector technology and soil moisture monitoring. Drip injection systems are becoming an industry standard for delivering fertilizers and pesticides in Texas vineyards. Those wishing to better their understanding of drip injector technology and science-based irrigation water management through soil moisture monitoring and ET will benefit. The Vineyard Irrigation Workshops will include presentations by Dr. Fipps and his team of irrigation specialists, followed by hands-on demonstrations of calibration and installation in the field.
Workshop Topics:
•Demonstration on calibration of the three primary types of drip injection systems (positive displacement, diaphram, venturi) in the field
•Laws and regulations of drip injection systems
•Guidelines on how to inject fertilizers and chemicals into drip systems
•Drip Irrigation system maintenance (cleaning ,clog control)
•Installation and monitoring of soil moisture with Watermark sensors
•Interpreting data from Watermark soil moisture sensors & evapotranspiration (ET) data
•Demonstration of water holding capacity in various soil textures (sand, silt, clay)
North Texas Region Workshop
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Delaney Vineyards, Grapevine, TX
http://www.delaneyvineyards.com/index.htm
Contact: Fran Pontasch fmpontasch@ag.tamu.edu
Registration & Cost:
Registration is required for the Vineyard Irrigation Workshops. The cost of the workshop is $35. Payment and registration can be completed on-line using the Texas AgriLife Extension Conference Services Website: https://agrilifevents.tamu.edu/index.cfm (Keyword: “Vineyard Irrigation Workshop”). Be sure to check that you are registering for the location and date that you wish to attend. Light refreshments will be provided at the workshops. Please dress according to local weather conditions.