Dr. Willemijn Appels and her team (Photo Credit: Rob Olson Photgraphy via Lethbridge College)

By Lara Fominoff

Irrigation study

Lethbridge College to embark on four-year potato irrigation study

Aug 24, 2019 | 9:37 AM

Lethbridge, AB – A nearly $400,000 grant from the Canadian Agricultural Partnership will allow researchers at Lethbridge College to embark upon a four-year study to determine how watering and irrigation practices affect various potato crops in the region.

Five producers with fields in Vauxhall, Chin, Bow Island and Taber will take part in the study. It will record how producers use their existing irrigation and available water sources and the outcome it has in different parts of their fields.

Dr. Willemijn Appels, Lethbridge College’s Mueller Applied Research Chair in Irrigation Science, says it’s a great inventory because they’re not simply assessing one particular field.

“We can actually say, ‘looking at this range of soil types and topographies, these are the main drivers or variations.’ We can then try to figure out what a producer can do with management and technology – where the sweet spot is they could use to increase their yield, increase their water used, efficiency, and eventually start looking at more expansion of irrigated areas.”

The Potato Growers of Alberta will also partner in the study. Agricultural Director, Thomas McDade, says there’s a critical importance to understanding the optimal amount and timing of water use in high-value crops like potatoes.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

6h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

“If there is a drought, or when there are issues associated with climate change, we are very interested in understanding how best to manage the amount of water available to us. It’s part of the potato growing community’s commitment to be good stewards of their land and the environment.”

Dr. Appels and the Potato Growers of Alberta, along with GrowTEC had previously collaborated in a single-field variable rate irrigation study.