CANCELLED Permian Basin: Effects of Irrigated Agriculture on Water Quantity and Quality in the High Plains Aquifer
This event has been cancelled.
Irrigated agriculture consumes more than 95% of groundwater in the High Plains aquifer. While water conservative irrigation practices are currently strongly promoted, tradeoffs between depletion of water resources and salinization need to be understood. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of irrigation on groundwater resources, including water quantity and quality, in the southern High Plains (SHP) using unsaturated and saturated zone data. Boreholes were drilled under different land use settings; 4 under rangeland, 19 under rainfed agriculture, and 13 under irrigated agriculture. Soil samples were analyzed for matric potential and water-extractable Cl and NO3. Groundwater-table and solute hydrographs were also evaluated.
Location:
Westlake Club
570 Westlake Park Blvd.
Houston
,
TX 77079