Oakes Irrigation Research Site
Carrington Research Extension CenterNorth Dakota State University
P.O. Box 531, Oakes, ND 58474-0531, Phone: (701) 742-2744, FAX: (701) 742-2700, E-mail: Walter.Albus@ndsu.edu

WEATHER AND IRRIGATION 2008

Table 1.  Precipitation and temperature

Table 2.  Growing degree units

Table 3.  Dates of last and first frosts

Table 4.  Irrigation water applied

                                                                             

 

            The winter of 2007 - 2008 was mild with little snow cover through January.  February saw colder temperatures.  April had several snow falls which delayed field operations.  The last frost in the spring was on May 14, about 12 days later than average.  Summer temperatures were cooler than average  the first half of the growing season and about average for the second half of the season.  The maximum temperature equaled or exceeded 90°F 8 times; six times in July and twice in August.  The highest temperature was 93°F on July 1 and July 14.  Precipitation was above average in June and October; below average in April, May and September; and about average in July and August.  Total annual precipitation was near the long-term average.  The average daily temperatures were average in July, August and September; above average in October; and below average in April, May and June.  The first frost was on October 14 and first hard frost was on October 16.  The first frost was about 15 days later than the long term average and the first hard frost was 12 days later than the long term average (25-year).  All crops matured before frost, but most corn matured late resulting in higher moisture at harvest. Growing degree units in 2008 were below average.


Table 1.  Precipitation and temperature at the Oakes Irrigation Research Site.                      

 

Month

Precipitation

Average daily temperatures

2008

15-year average

25-year average

2008

15-year average

25-year average

-------------------------- inches ------------------------

--------------------------°F --------------------------

April

0.71

1.37

41

44

May

1.24

3.31

3.00

54

56

57

June

4.30

3.84

3.73

64

67

67

July

3.67

3.33

3.20

71

71

71

August

2.71

2.18

2.12

70

69

69

September

2.44

3.04

2.62

60

60

59

October

5.37

2.41

48

46

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

2008

10-year average

15-year average

25-year average

May

279

296

299

323

June

430

494

502

498

July

640

660

640

630

August

626

580

585

575

September

369

367

375

352

Total

2344

2397

2401

2378

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.

2008

10-year average

15-year average

25-year average

Last frost in spring

32 °F or less

May 14

Apr 30

May 1

4-May

28 °F or less

May 11

Apr 28

Apr 27

28-Apr

First frost in fall

32 °F or less

Oct 14

Oct 3

Oct 3

29-Sep

28 °F or less

Oct 16

Oct 5

Oct 8

4-Oct

Frost free period (days)

153

155

155

149

 

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Table 4.  Irrigation water applied, 2008.

Study

Irrigation water applied

inches

Barley variety trial

7.5

Carbon sequestration study

corn on corn

10.4

corn on onion

9.4

soybean on corn

9.4

Dry edible bean trials

dry edible bean seed treatment

10.5

pinto bean variety trial

8.8

miscellaneous edible bean variety trial

10.5

navy bean variety trial

10.5

Field corn hybrid performance trial

12.8

Field corn population and row width study

12.8

Hard red spring wheat variety trial

9

Horsch Anderson vs conventional planting

corn

11.5

soybean

11

Onion hybrid performance trial

12.2

Onion conventional vs strip-till

12.2

Onion weed control study

13.2

Potato variety trial

13.2

Soybean nursery

conventional

10

early roundup ready

11

roundup ready

10

Soybean variety performance trial

10

Strip-till

corn on soybean

12.3

soybean on corn

10.8

corn on corn

9.5

Sugar beet conventional tillage vs strip-till  trial

14.7

Sunflower head rot study*

3.5

*Received several additional inches irrigation via the misting system

 

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Go to Oakes Irrigation Research Site 2008 Annual Report

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