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B. ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
This project will identify the economic potential and cultural practices necessary for low-water-use crops with the aim of minimizing water use, soil erosion and evaporation from soil surfaces. In addition, the research will evaluate methods to re-establish desirable vegetation in areas that may be affected by changing agricultural practices and to anticipate vegetation responses under scenarios identified through modeling efforts.
Researchers:
From UNR: Elizabeth Leger (PI), University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (UNCE); Peter Weisberg (Co-PI), Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science (NRES); Jay Davison (PI), UNCE (Tom Harris and Kynda Curtis, (collaborators), Department of Resources Economics),
From DRI: Paul Verburg (Co-PI), Division of Earth and Ecosystems (DEES) and Todd Caldwell (Co-PI), DEES
Updates:
2007: August | September | October | November | December
Current Year: 2008
August 2007:
The team is progressing with the alternative agriculture and re-vegetation planting, scheduled for this fall. Field sampling of plant community composition and soils along the riparian corridor has been completed, and the team of investigators is starting to revisit field sites for measurement of woody canopy structure. These data will eventually be used to calibrate classification of LIDAR imagery, and for spatial modeling of vegetation structure and plant-water relations. Gave a presentation at the most recent stakeholders meeting.
September 2007:
We have secured a lease for work on one of our planting sites, and will begin site preparations (disking and clearing) in the next month. P. Weisberg has completed sampling of riparian vegetation, including canopy structure, which was finished this month.
October 2007:
We broke ground at our first planting sites this month. Disking and clearing has been completed at two sites, and is in progress at our final two sites. Field sampling of riparian vegetation is complete, and data are being proofed and entered. We are working on spatial modeling methodologies in collaboration with other research groups.
Figure 1. Jim Fulstone leveling the flood-irrigated field at the Wildlife Management Area
Figure 2. Newly-cleared field at the well-irrigated site, Wildlife Management Area.
Figure 3. Field technicians from Otis Bay Consulting and University sampling riparian plant community composition along the Walker River, near Rosachi Ranch.
November 2007:
Cool season species have been planted at two sites, and planting is in progress at our final two sites. We are continuing to work on spatial modeling of field collected data. A group of undergraduate students from UNR came out to our planting site to learn how to calibrate a drill.
December 2007:
Fall planting has been completed at our four research sites.