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Evaluation of yield quantity and quality of two oil crops in the promotion of sustained deficit irrigation in the Pacific Northwest, USA

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  5th National Decennial Irrigation Conference Proceedings, 5-8 December 2010, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona USA  IRR10-8887.(doi:10.13031/2013.35868)
Authors:   ROMULUS OKOTH OKWANY, R TROY PETERS, KERRY L RINGER, DOUGLAS B WALSH, ROBERT G STEVENS, AN N HANG, JOAN R DAVENPORT
Keywords:   Sustained deficit irrigation, monoterpenes, spearmint, canola, harvest index, water use efficiency, water productivity

Agriculture, as the main user of available fresh water in the Pacific Northwest, faces persistent pressure to be efficient. The intent is to maximize the water use efficiency of crops by minimizing the amount of water used for production by reducing irrigation levels and minimizing water losses. This study evaluated the impacts of reduced, sustained deficit irrigation water management on two specialty oil crops, mint and canola. The study evaluated the yield parameters of native spearmint (Mentha Spicata) and two varieties of canola (Rapier and Athena) over two seasons for the impact of sustained deficit irrigation on the quantity and quality of yields and yield characteristics. Sustained deficit irrigation is shown to be adaptable to water constraints for canola and spearmint with potentials to stabilize farm returns by potentially raising the unit price of the oils and byproducts. With this scenario increased price offers, due to improved quality coupled with production cost savings would create a production niche to sustain the Pacific Northwest spearmint and canola farming systems.

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