Lighthouse Cove Site, May 28, 2003

Colchester Site, May 28, 2003

Woodbridge: Irrigated and Non-irrigated
June 25, 2003

Woodbridge: Irrigated and Non-irrigated
July 4, 2003

Woodbridge, July 24, 2003

Seed Corn Irrigation Field Trial Project

The seed corn irrigation study investigated the effect of irrigation on seed corn yield. Two fields were included in the study, each with irrigated and non-irrigated strips running their length. Weekly plant and soil measurements were taken to supplement the weather information collected.

Study Locations

• Lighthouse Cove site: 1300 Co. Rd. 39 in the municipality of Lakeshore, Essex County, Ontario, Canada. Cooperator: Bob-a-lou Farms.
• Colchester site: 830 Co. Rd. 50 in the town of Essex, Essex County, Ontario, Canada. Cooperator: Ed Woodbridge.

The Irrigation Budget

In 2003, year one of the study, real time weather data was collected at each site for use in evapotranspiration (ETo) models to determine irrigation scheduling. Plant and soil measurements were taken weekly from various places within the field strips. Click here for soil texture measurements (PDF).

Though the water budget system effectively estimated soil moisture throughout the season, the effort and accuracy required in determining field capacity and wilting points, measuring rainfall and irrigation quantities and estimating water loss through evapotranspiration did not make this a practical system for the average grower.

The Capacitance Probe

In 2004 and 2005 a much more user-friendly method was tested. Using a capacitance probe, or ‘C-Probe’, which delivers hourly soil moisture readings at various depths, the grower is provided with a current picture of field conditions. The study compared both gun and drip irrigation systems on 16 varieties.

The use of the C-Probe proved to be the best method for monitoring soil moisture, allowing seed corn growers to make soil water decisions quickly and accurately.

Contact Information

For further information about the study and its results, you can email Doug Young at dyoung@ridgetownc.uoguelph.ca