Subsurface Water Retention Technology (SWRT) for Crop Improvement on Coarse Textured Soils

Transcription

1 Subsurface Water Retention Technology (SWRT) for Crop Improvement on Coarse Textured Soils Alvin Smucker, Kurt Thelen, Bruno Basso, Andrey Guber, Zouheir Massri, Ning Gong and Rafael Auras East Lansing, Michigan SWRT is a drought resilient water and nutrient conservation technology that produces greater quantities of grain, cellulosic biomass and vegetables with less water and fewer nutrients. 1

2 National and Global Expectations for Production Agriculture Global fresh water use averages about 70% for food and fiber production, 20% for industry, and 10% for municipal and domestic consumption. Most plants experience between 25 and 47 drought periods annually as only 40 to 50% of rainfall and irrigation water is absorbed by plant roots. Food production needs to increase by 70% to feed a projected global population of 9.6 billion by Will require 50% more irrigation water at current WUE. 2

3 Optimal SWRT locations, highlighted in red are sandy soils in Michigan. We have a total of nearly 18 million acres of sand. 4.3 million acres in agriculture Conversions of these sandy acres of highly permeable soil into sustainable agricultural production will transform lifestyles, improve rural employment and economies within five financially stressed regions of Michigan. 3

4 370 Million Acres of Soil Landscapes With Less Than or Equal to 6 Inches of Water in Plant Root Zones. 743 million acres USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): 4

5 The Ogallala Aquifer is one of the largest replenished aquifer systems in the world, stretching across portions of eight states: South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. This aquifer underlays about 174,000 square miles. It is approximately the size of California. It contains an estimated quantity of 4,000,000,000,000,000 liters of water. 5

6 Historically (1960s) subsurface asphalt soil water retention barriers increased average yields of 10 crops by 40% in five states No Barrier Barrier % 32% Maize Yield - Kg ha % 22% Sand Sandy Loam Sand Sandy Loam Non-irrigated Irrigated SALUS models predict SWRT increases of corn yields on sandy soils 283% in Brisbane, Australia. 6

7 We designed an interface between the root and vadose zones that diminished the gravitational drainage and increased the uniform capillary action of soil water in the root zone. SWRT SWRT doubles soil water content in plant root zone SWRT membrane 7

8 SWRT water saving membranes are contoured engineered low density (LD) polyethylene (PE) films strategically installed below plant root zone with space available for unlimited root growth AND internal drainage during excess rainfall cm 1.5 to 3.0 mil PE membranes 40 cm 2:1 aspect ratio 55 cm 8

9 9

10 10

11 T/a 8 34 T/a Kg/m T/a 0 Control 25 cm Shallow V-shaped 40 cm Deep bowl shaped No membranes membranes membranes S Polyethylene membranes with aspect ratios of 2:1 SWRT membranes increased corn production 283 and 383% when installed at two soil depths within plant root zone. 11

12 SWRT improved irrigation WUE for corn: 278%. That is more crop per drop! 12

13 Matric water potential - hpa Natural drainage in sand 45 cm depth of SWRT membrane doubles VWC Volumetric water content (VWC) % Identification of optimal depth of SWRT membranes in a coarse sand is based upon the soil capillary rise and this soil water retention graph. 13

14 Root Zone Soil water Content % SWRT membranes double soil water holding capacity in corn root zone in sand, saving 110,000 gallons (4.1 acre/in) of irrigation water per acre during each 110 day cropping season, SWRT membranes No membranes 14

15 Excavated water and nutrient saving membrane, 12 wide x 6 deep, installed at soil depth of 14 from base to soil surface. 12 in wide 6 in deep 15

16 Subsurface water retention technology (SWRT) membranes double soil water contents in the root zone of most plants. Optimal soil water gradients are established from the membranes to near the soil surface. Dry soil surface Vol. H 2 O 8% 16% 20% 25% 40 cm 11% 2:1 aspect ratio 55 cm 8% 16

17 Field testing of irrigated corn growing on sand soils Control Sand No SWRT Membranes SWRT Membranes 17

18 Non- drought stressed corn Plot Promotion of irrigated maize growth and yield by SWRT water and nutrient saving membranes (left side) and no SWRT membranes (right side). June 29, 2012 in East Lansing, Michigan Drought stressed corn plot of 17.1 Mt/ha of grain 9.7 Mt/ha of grain 18

19 Field Results Corn Growing on SWRT Membrane-improved Sandy Soils Produced 74% Higher Grain Yields and 93% Greater Total Biomass 19

20 SWRT Membranes Increased Irrigated Corn Grain Yields on Sand Soil 2012 N=5 Control, Tilled No Membranes 158 (23)* 100% 154 (34) 100% SWRT Membranes 213 (21) 268 (20) * Standard deviations from the mean. 20

21 MSU SWRT Doubled Total Corn Biomass, Grain Plus Corn Stalks, on 15 Row Spacing 2012 Control SWRT Membranes SWRT percent increase N = 5 21

22 Corn roots at surface of SWRT membrane are all white and healthy

23 Irrigated SWRT membranes Non-irrigated control no membranes Field view of July 9, 2013 irrigated SWRT membrane (left) and non-irrigated control corn (right). Nutrient and water retention in root zone, by SWRT membranes, promoted corn growth 78% and yield. 23

24 Corn growth on irrigated nutrient and water retention membranes. August 9, 2013 Deficient corn growing on highly leached control plots without SWRT membranes. 24

25 SWRT membranes No SWRT membranes SWRT membranes 25

26 Border corn near SWRT irrigated plots in. Non-irrigated 15 in. Non-irrigated SWRT membrane 26 control no membrane

27 Bushel per Acre Both treatments included SWRT membranes. 325(9)* 169 (9)* 15" Row Non Irrigated 15" Row Irrigated Corn grain production on SWRT membrane improved sand soils. World record grain production on sands occurred when receiving prescription irrigation and fertigation, increasing grain yield (1.92-fold) 92%. N=5. *Denotes standard error. 27

28 MSU International MSU International Big Play Research Program Program Summary SWRT Payback Periods Under Various Yield and Cost Scenarios for Michigan Corn for Grain in 2012 SWRT Initial Cost per Acre SWRT Avg. Annual $2,200 $2,000 $1,800 $1,600 $1,400 $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 Yield Increase for Michigan Corn Return on Investment Years 20% % % % % % % % % % % % % % Research outcome: 74% increase in corn yields for conventional 15 rows translates into payback periods ranging from 3 to 3.7 years depending on the SWRT installation cost per acre. Source: USDA, NASS, ISP/OIRC Analysis MI Maize: 5-Yr Avg bu/ac $/bu 4.67 $/acre 28585

29 Economics Maximum Initial SWRT Market Potential for U.S. Corn & Soybeans Based on Available Sandy Soils 5-Yr Avg. U.S. % Initial Initial SWRT Crop Ac/Planted (000) SWRT Acres Acres (000) Corn 89, % 13,483 Soybeans 76, % 11,485 Total 166,449 24,967 New SWRT Profit (000) $8,909 * $5,076** $13,985,633 * SWRT increases profits by $661 per acre of corn. ** SWRT increases profits by $424 per acre of soybeans. Corn & Bean Gross Revenue Max Initial Acres (000) per Acre Market (000) 29

30 Do SWRT membranes improve vegetable production? 30

31 Harvest Weight (g/plot) SWRT membranes increased commercial production of squash 44% (1.44-fold) on a Spinks sand near Benton Harbor, MI Both treatments were irrigated at same rates used on local farms, N = Squash Harvest Weights Conventional Irrigation Control SWRT 31

32 MSU SWRT enhancement of vegetable production of irrigated cucumbers and peppers on a Spinks Sand at SWMREC, N=4 Control 7,689 (450)* 10,710 (2674) SWRT Membranes 10,336 (440) 15,800 (1518) SWRT Increase *Values in parentheses are standard errors of the means. 32

33 MSU International MSU International Big Play Research Program Program Summary SWRT Payback Periods Under Various Yield and Cost Scenarios for Michigan Fresh Cucumbers SWRT Avg Annual SWRT Initial Cost per Acre, $ Yld Increase $2,200 $2,000 $1,800 $1,600 $1,400 $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 2% % % % % % % % % % % % % % Research outcome: 49% increase in cucumber yields translates into payback periods ranging from 0.4 to 1 year depending on the SWRT cost per acre. MI Cucumbers, Fresh: 5-Yr Avg CWT/ac 197 $/CWT Revenue/ac 3,995 Source: USDA, NASS, ISP/OIRC Analysis 33

34 Subsurface Water Retention Technology is a New Option for Improving Yields, Conserving Water Resources and Reducing Groundwater Contamination Doubles production with half the irrigation water Sequesters soil carbon Sustainable Food Production on Sands Reduces surface erosion of soil P Saves 40% more nitrates in plant root zone Greater biomass production of renewable biofuels Maximum Cellulosic Biomass Production on Sands Health and Environmental Protection of Groundwater Reduces nutrients, and viral/bacterial contamination of groundwater (Current research) 34

35 SWRT membranes transform highly permeable soil into long-term sustainable agriculture production. SWRT provides: 1) New land for increasing food and energy 2) Increased agriculture production 3) Improved ecosystem services by agriculture What is next? New soil technology must be combined with improved plant biotechnology in order to improve our efficient use of our soil and water resources in a manner that augments food security. What is needed? 1) More farmer and industry participation with this new technology 2) Federal support for installation of SWRT membranes 3) Commercialization of SWRT membrane installation chisels 35

36 MSU SWRT Solutions, Inc. July 27, 2013 July 27, Websites Google: SWRT Smucker SWRT membrane installation: Thank You 36