The Texas High Plains ET TXHPET Network development, operation and use

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The Texas High Plains ET (TXHPET) Network
development, operation and use

• Thomas Marek, P.E.Senior Research Engineer
  Superintendent, NPRF
• Texas AgriLife Research , Amarillo/Etter,
  Texasand
• Dr. Dana Porter, P.E.
• Associate Professor Extension Agricultural
  Engineer Texas AgriLife Extension and Research,
  Lubbock, Texas

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1st not all networks equal.

• Ag based used for irrigation w/crop production
  models
• Climate based - NOAA, NWS
• School net - media based are educational tools
• Others NRCS, Forest Service (fire), DOT(ice),
• USGS (well, rain), USACE(flood control)
• Soooonot all data can be interchanged.

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What it takes to have for an effective ET
network ?
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What a network takes?a lot ! of planning
of commitment of effort of time of cost
(now a relative term) .
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Why care about an ET network?

• As allocation and competition from other water
  use sectors continue to increase, management of
  irrigation resources become increasingly
  important. (TX-60- THP-89)
• Ag producers want adequate or share of resource
  supply for their production and acceptable SOL.
  An ET network provides real data to help on
  policy matters so that happens.
• Provides scientific data so efficient use occurs.

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Whats an Ag. based ET network?

• An ag. based ET network is a system of
  meteorological stations representative of
  cultural conditions typically within an irrigated
  area and used to calculate evapotranspiration (ET
  i.e. crop water use ) for ag. Production.
• In TXHPET, typical representation is from to 900
  to 1500 square miles per station

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ET Network questions

• What are they for?
• Where are they needed?
• Why use them?,
• How are they operated, used funded?
• Note Data accuracy representation is paramount
  for applications- otherwise Garbage in, Garbage
  out!

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ET Network Answers

• What do they do? provide valuable crop data
• Where does the data come from ? research
  lysimeters
• Why do producers need them? validate efficient
  water use, increase profits, analyze irrigated
  conservation strategies
• How does the public benefit? supports area
  economy knowledge basis, use in water planning
  efforts (Texas stands to lose 9b/yr)
• Also one has to survive before they can succeed
  ET networks help

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2010
OKLAHOMA
TEXAS
SHERMAN
DALLAM
HANSFORD
OCHILTREE
LIPSCOMB
MOORE
HARTLEY
HUTCHINSON
ROBERTS
HEMPHILL
POTTER
OLDHAM
CARSON
GRAY
WHEELER
RANDALL
ARMSTRONG
DONLEY
COLLINGSWORTH
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2060
OKLAHOMA
TEXAS
SHERMAN
DALLAM
HANSFORD
OCHILTREE
LIPSCOMB
MOORE
HARTLEY
HUTCHINSON
ROBERTS
HEMPHILL
POTTER
OLDHAM
CARSON
GRAY
WHEELER
RANDALL
ARMSTRONG
DONLEY
COLLINGSWORTH
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TXHPET Development
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The TXHPET network

• TXHPET is considered large network
• Value not just based on station numbers alone-
  some networks have 100s and 1,000s of stations
• Irrigated area representation (counties/acreage)T
  XHPET 1.5 million acres gt 50 counties)
• Economic impact value (nominally 20
  million)(2008 80 million)

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How we did it maybe best how to?(not a top
down, but more of a what can we do together
approach)
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ET Data

• Accurate and scientifically based
• Timely (daily or more frequent depending on
  targeted application goal,
• Maintain integrity (through scheduled
  maintenance),
• Comparative, calibrated and verified,
• Sustainable (- adequate resource support and
  avoid give/take),
• Conform to agriculturally based and scientific
  standards.

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Product(s) Development

• Ask clientele as to their needs
• Inform clientele as to whats proposed discuss
  format
• Involve clientele in product development
  w/review
• Re design/modify product(s)
• Yields nice multiple working relationships (all
  claim credits of product(s))
• Virtually assures nominal use of product (-not by
  all, but many,- accept that some never)

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main TXHPET file Outputs (- simple direct)
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main TXHPET file Outputs(- simple direct)
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Station Development

• Develop redundant station grid
• Use reputable data logger company
• Use accurate instruments manufacturer
• Select versatile programming language/options
• Establish (long term) working relationship
  w/firms

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TXHPET Station( in broken range area )
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ET station placement

• Station placement should be adequately free
  from biasing influences such paved roads, tree
  rows, valleys, large depression areas, potential
  water holding areas such as playas, lakes, large
  water holes, unpaved roads with dust potential,
  feedyard or other confined animal feeding
  operations, co-op elevators, or other influences.
  
• Close to hard-line phone service, if needed.

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TXHPET Station( at research field)
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Computer Development

• Advocate multiple operating systems ET network
  system involves differing languages ( acq,
  process, webs, sftp ssh, listserv). (Too
  simple is a hackers dream)
• Advocate separate one way transmissions
• Limit electronic back doors
• Multiple interrogation units for redundancy
• Backup plus secure physically electronically
• 5 operational PCs, 4 laptops, 4 servers, 2
  development PCs, 3 Backup machines, 18 storage
  units (.edu domain reqds)

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Office Computers( lots of wires)
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North Plains ET network
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South Plains ET network
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Networkhttp//txhighplainset.tamu.edu
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Future Development

• Ask clientele as to their continuing needs/wants
• Again discuss format and outputs
• Entrench Extension and WCD ed. water personnel
• Involve clientele, admins, policymakers
• Generate base support relationships /mechanisms
• Reiterate process as needed for advances
• Deliver what is promised dont mislead users

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TXHPET Operation Dissemination
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Where does ET data come from?
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newly standardized ET Equation
where ETsz standardized reference
evapotranspiration, Rn net radiation, G soil
heat flux, T mean air temperature, u2 mean
wind speed (at 2-m height), es saturation vapor
pressure of the air, ea actual vapor pressure
of the air,
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How crop ET is calculated?

• ETc ETo Kclysimeters provide Kc-why
  important?Values are accuratedo we have enough
  data ?NO whygenetics are changing ETc
  requirementsHOW? Because genetic altered DNA
  modifications are changing the way plant cells
  process and utilize water and CO2 for
  photosynthesis.

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Why is ET Important?

• Keeps up with changing production conditions
  (i.e.- farming on the averages, you go broke)
• Data is accurate
• Best available values
• Science based
• RE Validated
• Updating continuing
• Maybe use to be mandatory in time?
• Basis of allocation and regulation

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TXHPET (a virtual network)
-Made up NPET (13) SPET (5) physical
networks-All stations are in located in
irrigated areas- target is irrigation -Why two
networks? differences in crops, sys. capacity
and clientele
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TXHPET main pagehttp//txhighplainset.tamu.edu
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
Daily Fax Output format
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
Soil Temperatures Output Format
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Texas High Plains Evapotranspiration
Network http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu/
Daily Weather Output Format
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TXHPET Dissemination Venues

• Fax- (older users)
• Listserv -emailed each morning _at_500am(http//ama
  rillo2.tamu.edu/listserv)
• Web access (http//txhighplainset.tamu.edu)
• FTP access
• Newer methods being considered text
  messaging voice mail integrated user profiling

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On-going Operations costs?

• Computer and QA/QC personnel
• Field Personnel
• Instrumentation re-calibrations
• Replacement instrumentation
• Computer upgrades and software
• Vehicles, maintenance mileage
• Development programming
• Total minimum200K/yr(benefit 2008 20-80
  million)

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TXHPET Use
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Water Use and Water Use Efficiency Approx.
Seasonal WUE Water Use (various
sources) Sorghum 13 - 24 inches 200-500
(lbs/ac-in) Cotton 13 27 inches 50 100
(lbs lint/ac-in)   Wheat 13 - 28 inches 2.4 -
6.4 (bu/ac-in) (144 384 lb/ac-in)
Corn 28 - 32 inches 250 450
(lbs/ac-in) Alfalfa 36 40 inches 280
400 (lbs/ac-in) (5 7 inches/ton)
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Why Schedule with ET?

• Q Why care about irrigation scheduling? A I
  dont have sufficient water capacity for full
  crop ET anyway, so why bother with scheduling?
• analogous to a bank account.

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Crop Demand varies
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Irrigation System Capacity
Note Gross Application Values listed
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Irr. Scheduling know where you are at
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TXHPET ET Use

• Users are producers, consultants agriculturists
• 20 state federal research projects supported in
  2008
• Last year (2008), over 487,000 pages (98 paper
  case equiv.) of ET and crop water use data
  delivered ( 75 being electronically downloaded
  - 73 paper case equiv.)
• (i.e..lots of trees)

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ET networks summary

• Finally..my thoughts (biases)
• Operations are the most laborious and costly of
  ET network processes. Development is the most
  rewarding.
• It truly takes a team effort that ties research ,
  extension and teaching together to help producers
  being profitable of today and tomorrow.
• Promises are easy, delivery is much harder
• Plans are cheap, implementations are costly

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