Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Gary Marek, 806-356-5717, gary.marek@ars.usda.gov
Dr. Kevin Heflin, 806-677-5600, kevin.heflin@ag.tamu.edu
BUSHLAND – A Lawn Irrigation Workshop designed to help homeowners using domestic wells for lawn irrigation conserve water is set for April 13 at the Cornerstone Ranch Event Center, 1901 Cement Plant Road, Bushland.
“Irrigating lawns using domestic wells can present unique challenges for homeowners in rural areas,” said Dr. Gary Marek, U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service agricultural engineer, Bushland. “Adoption of prudent management strategies can lead to more effective irrigation and extend limited groundwater resources.”
The program is free and will be from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a catered lunch. Soil moisture probes, rain gauges and door prizes, will be handed out during the lunch.
The program is sponsored through a grant from the High Plains Underground Water Conservation District to the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, in collaboration with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Additional funding is provided by the Ogallala Aquifer Program.
Topics to be covered include:
– Irrigation Scheduling: How much and how often to water, and when not to water – Marek.
– Fertility Management: When and how much to fertilize, types of fertilizer – Dr. Kevin Heflin, AgriLife Extension agronomy program specialist, Amarillo.
– Turfgrass Varieties: Options for turfgrass species, water use characteristics, aesthetics, pros and cons of each – Dr. Jourdan Bell, AgriLife Extension agronomist, Amarillo.
– Well Maintenance: Anatomy of a domestic well, maintenance and contamination concerns – Jed Moorhead, USDA-ARS biological science technician, Bushland.
For more information, contact Marek at 806-356-5717, gary.marek@ars.usda.gov.
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