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, 2003
The winter of 2002 - 2003 was mild with little snow cover. Spring tillage and planting times were about average. The last frost in the spring was on April 17, about two weeks earlier 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) 13 times. The highest temperature was 102°F (39°C) on August 23. Precipitation was above average in May and June, below average in July, August and September, and about average in April and October. Total annual precipitation was below average. Temperatures were below average in May, June and September, and were above average in April, July, August and October. The first frost was on September 25 with a hard frost on September 30. The first frost and the first hard frost were 4 days and 6 days earlier than the ten year average. Some crops were adversely affected by two storms with high winds, driving rains, and some small hail in July. Most crops matured before frost. Growing degree units in 2003 were slightly above average.
Table 1. Precipitation and temperature at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.
Month |
Precipitation |
Average daily temperatures |
||||
2003 |
15-year average |
25-year average |
2003 |
15-year average |
25-year average |
|
|
---------------- inches -------------- |
------------------ °F ------------------ |
||||
|
||||||
April |
2.05 |
1.75 |
|
49.5 |
43.1 |
|
May |
5.16 |
2.69 |
2.43 |
55.5 |
57.1 |
57.5 |
June |
5.59 |
3.81 |
3.39 |
65.0 |
67.0 |
65.8 |
July |
2.32 |
3.63 |
3.26 |
71.0 |
70.6 |
70.7 |
August |
0.58 |
2.03 |
1.92 |
72.8 |
69.3 |
68.2 |
September |
1.32 |
2.73 |
2.26 |
58.5 |
59.1 |
58.3 |
October |
1.15 |
1.93 |
|
48.6 |
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 |
2003 |
10-year average |
15-year average |
20-year average |
May |
275 |
300 |
329 |
327 |
June |
471 |
507 |
509 |
482 |
July |
640 |
631 |
619 |
621 |
August |
671 |
601 |
588 |
574 |
September |
369 |
373 |
364 |
347 |
Total |
2426 |
2413 |
2408 |
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.
|
2003 |
10-year average |
20-year average |
|
Last frost in spring |
||||
|
less than 32 °F |
Apr 17 |
Apr 29 |
May 5 |
less than 28 °F |
Apr 17 |
Apr 27 |
Apr 29 |
|
First frost in fall |
||||
|
less than 32 °F |
Sep 25 |
Sep 29 |
Sep 27 |
less than 28 °F |
Sep 30 |
Oct 6 |
Oct 2 |
|
|
||||
Frost free period (days) |
161 |
151.5 |
144.7 |
|
Table 4. Irrigation water applied, 2003.
Study |
Irrigation water applied (inches) |
|
Cabbage hybrid performance trial |
12.3 |
|
Cabbage weed control studies |
11.8 |
|
Chinese cabbage hybrid performance trial |
7.8 |
|
Carrot hybrid performance trial |
|
|
|
Baby carrot |
4.3 |
Cut and peel |
5.8 |
|
Cello |
9.3 |
|
Dicing and Processing |
11.6 |
|
Carrot weed control study |
11.6 |
|
Field corn hybrid performance trial |
14.3 |
|
Onion hybrid performance trial |
10.5 |
|
Onion weed control study |
11.8 |
|
Pumpkin cover crop/living mulch study |
10.8 |
|
Pumpkin variety performance trial |
10.3 |
|
Pumpkin weed control study |
10.3 |
|
Crops previous to potato studies |
11.2 |
|
Furrow vs. hill planting of irrigated potato study |
9.8 |
|
Pepper hybrid performance trial |
10.5 |
|
Soybean variety performance trial |
10.0 |
|
‘Sugar enhanced’ sweetcorn hybrid performance trial |
5.5 |
|
‘Supersweet’ sweetcorn hybrid performance trial |
5.0 |
|
Winter squash variety performance trial |
10.3 |
|