Oakes Irrigation Research
Site
Carrington Research Extension Center * North Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Voice: (701) 742-2189, FAX: (701)
742-2700, email: rgreenla@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Table 1. Precipitation and temperature
Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts
Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2002
The winter of 2001 - 2002 was mild with little snow cover. Spring tillage and planting times were about average. The last frost in the spring was on May 24, three weeks later than average. Early summer temperatures were cool and damp. Hot humid weather followed the cooler temperature for most of the summer. The maximum temperature surpassed 90°F (32°C) 11 times. The highest temperature was 101°F (38°C) on June 29. Precipitation was above average in June and July, below average in April and May, and about average in August, September and October. Total annual precipitation was above average. Temperatures were below average in April, May, August, and October and were above average in June, July, and September. The first frost was on September 26 with a hard frost on October 2. The first frost and the first hard frost were about 3 days earlier than the ten year average. Some crops did not mature before frost. Growing degree units in 2002 were above average.
Table 1. Precipitation and temperature at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.
Month |
Precipitation |
Average daily temperatures |
||||
2002 |
15-year average |
25-year average |
2002 |
15-year average |
25-year average |
|
|
---------------- inches -------------- |
------------------ °F ------------------ |
||||
|
||||||
April |
1.47 |
1.62 |
|
41.1 |
43.1 |
|
May |
1.77 |
2.49 |
2.40 |
51.5 |
57.5 |
57.5 |
June |
5.72 |
3.58 |
3.28 |
70.4 |
67.0 |
65.8 |
July |
5.45 |
3.54 |
3.09 |
73.0 |
70.6 |
70.7 |
August |
2.52 |
2.09 |
1.99 |
67.2 |
69.3 |
68.2 |
September |
2.87 |
2.95 |
2.34 |
61.3 |
59.1 |
58.3 |
October |
1.35 |
1.88 |
|
36.6 |
45.4 |
|
The 25-year averages are not available for April and October.
Table 2. Growing degree units1 at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.
Month |
2002 |
10-year average |
15-year average |
20-year average |
|
||||
May |
249 |
304 |
329 |
327 |
June |
608 |
500 |
509 |
482 |
July |
688 |
619 |
619 |
621 |
August |
545 |
589 |
588 |
574 |
September |
422 |
363 |
364 |
347 |
Total |
2512 |
2375 |
2409 |
2351 |
1Growing degree units = (Tempmax + Tempmin)/2 - 50. If Tempmax is greater than 86, then
Tempmax = 86. If Tempmin is less than 50, then Tempmin = 50. Temperature is in degrees F.
Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts.
|
2002 |
10-year average |
20-year average |
Last frost in spring |
|||
less than 32 °F |
May 24 |
May 1 |
May 5 |
less than 28 °F |
May 24 |
Apr 27 |
Apr 29 |
First frost in fall |
|||
less than 32 °F |
Sep 26 |
Sep 29 |
Sep 27 |
less than 28 °F |
Oct 2 |
Oct 6 |
Oct 2 |
|
|||
Frost free period (days) |
125 |
151.5 |
144.7 |
Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2002.
Study |
Irrigation water applied (inches) |
|
Cabbage hybrid performance trial |
11.5 |
|
Cabbage weed control studies |
11.7 |
|
Field corn hybrid performance trial |
8.5 |
|
Carrot hybrid performance trial |
|
|
|
Baby carrot |
7.0 |
Cut and peel |
7.0 |
|
Cello |
8.6 |
|
Processing |
9.1 |
|
Carrot weed control study |
8.6 |
|
Edible bean white mold studies |
9.2 |
|
Onion hybrid performance trial |
10.3 |
|
Onion weed control study |
10.3 |
|
Pumpkin cover crop/living mulch study |
8.3 |
|
Pumpkin variety performance trial |
8.1 |
|
Pumpkin weed control study |
9.1 |
|
Crops previous to potato studies |
|
|
|
Study started in 2001 |
9.0 |
Study started in 2002 |
8.5 |
|
Potato planting configuration study |
8.3 |
|
Pepper hybrid performance trial |
9.7 |
|
Soybean variety performance trial |
7.5 |
|
‘Sugar enhanced’ sweetcorn hybrid performance trial |
8.1 |
|
‘Supersweet’ sweetcorn hybrid performance trial |
7.5 |
|
Winter squash variety performance trial |
9.1 |