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, E-mail: Leonard.Besemann@ndsu.edu
Table 1. Precipitation and temperature
Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts
Table 4. Irrigation water applied
The winter of 2004 - 2005 was mild with little snow cover. Spring tillage and planting times were about average. The last frost in the spring was on May 14, about two weeks later than average with a hard frost (19 F) on May 4. Except for the first half of May, summer temperatures were warmer through most of the growing season. The maximum temperature equaled or exceeded 90 F (32 C) ten times; twice in June and September and six times in July. The highest temperature was 95 F (35 C) on June 23 and July 16. Precipitation was above average in May, June and August; below average in April, July and October; and about average in September. Total annual precipitation was three inches above the long term average. Temperatures were below average in May. The temperature was about average in August and above average in April, June, July, September and October. The first frost on October 5 and was also a hard frost. The first frost was six days later than the ten-year average and the first hard frost was one day later than the ten-year average. Some early planted crops may have been affected by the later spring frost. All crops matured before frost. Growing degree units in 2005 were well above average.
Table 1. Precipitation and temperature at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.
Month |
Precipitation |
Average daily temperatures |
||||
2005 |
15-year average |
25-year average |
2005 |
15-year average |
25-year average |
|
|
---------------- inches -------------- |
------------------ F ------------------ |
||||
April |
0.58 |
1.50 |
|
48.1 |
43.8 |
|
May |
4.55 |
3.27 |
2.76 |
54.0 |
56.6 |
56.8 |
June |
7.93 |
4.10 |
3.58 |
68.5 |
66.3 |
66.1 |
July |
2.41 |
3.63 |
3.33 |
72.2 |
70.1 |
71.0 |
August |
3.14 |
1.83 |
1.93 |
68.0 |
68.8 |
68.9 |
September |
2.30 |
2.81 |
2.47 |
63.1 |
59.5 |
58.6 |
October |
1.72 |
2.14 |
|
47.7 |
46.1 |
|
The 25-year averages are not available for April and October.
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Table 2. Growing degree units1 at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.
Month |
2005 |
10-year average |
15-year average |
25-year average |
|
||||
May |
263 |
284 |
308 |
317 |
June |
545 |
491 |
493 |
489 |
July |
666 |
641 |
610 |
628 |
August |
556 |
588 |
579 |
578 |
September |
439 |
382 |
371 |
351 |
|
||||
Total |
2468 |
2386 |
2361 |
2363 |
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.
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Table 3. Dates of last and first frosts.
|
2005 |
10-year average |
15-year average |
25-year average |
|
Last frost in spring |
|||||
|
less than 32 F |
May 15 |
May 2 |
May 4 |
May 6 |
less than 28 F |
May 4 |
Apr 30 |
Apr 28 |
Apr 30 |
|
First frost in fall |
|||||
|
less than 32 F |
Oct 5 |
Sep 29 |
Sep 29 |
Sep 26 |
|
less than 28 F |
Oct 5 |
Oct 4 |
Oct 4 |
Oct 1 |
|
|||||
Frost free period (days) |
143 |
151.5 |
147.7 |
143.8 |
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Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2005.
Study |
Irrigation water applied |
|
|
inches |
|
|
||
Broccoli hybrid performance trial |
7.5 |
|
Cabbage hybrid performance trial |
7.5 |
|
Cabbage weed control studies |
|
|
|
Direct seed |
7.5 |
|
Transplant |
6.6 |
Chinese cabbage hybrid performance trial |
7.9 |
|
Carrot hybrid performance trial |
|
|
|
Baby carrot |
5.0 |
|
Cut and peel |
7.0 |
|
Cello |
8.6 |
|
Dicing and Jumbo |
9.2 |
Carrot weed control study |
8.2 |
|
Field corn hybrid performance trial |
6.7 |
|
Living mulch studies |
|
|
|
Cabbage |
7.7 |
|
Carrot |
7.7 |
|
Sweet corn |
7.0 |
Onion hybrid performance trial |
8.2 |
|
Onion row spacing plant population study |
8.2 |
|
Onion weed control study |
8.2 |
|
Pepper hybrid performance trial |
9.2 |
|
Pumpkin variety performance trial |
6.0 |
|
Pumpkin weed control study |
6.0 |
|
Soybean variety performance trial |
6.9 |
|
Sugar enhanced sweet corn hybrid performance trial |
4.8 |
|
Supersweet sweet corn hybrid performance trial |
6.0 |
|
Watermelon hybrid performance trial |
7.2 |
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irrigation section
Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2005 Annual Report
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