Dr. Chris Henry

Associate Professor and Water Management Engineer|University of Arkansas

2026 Abstract - IRRIGATION SESSION - FURROW IRRIGATED RICE, WITH NITRIC ACID FERTILIZER, IN-FURROW FERTILIZER, CAMERA GUIDED WEED CONTROL AND DEVELOPMENTS WITH THE PIT-LESS PUMP SYSTEM: The patented pitless recirculating pump system (PRPS) developed by the University of Arkansas has over 10 years of research and on-farm demonstration experience. The system has been shown to improve head rice yield by 9% using a 23% Urea ammonium nitrate plus calcium nitrate fertilizer (YaraLiva UCAN-23). A three-year study found that the pit-less system improved yields by 9% and total water use efficiency by 31% over a 3-day irrigation cycle. A recent study comparing the pit-less system to a 3-day, 7 day and using soil moisture sensors at a 40% allowable depletion using the University of Arkansas “Watermark Soil Sensor Calculator” mobile app, found that the continuous system had a significantly higher yield than the other irrigation treatments, an improvement of 29 bushels per acre. There was no difference between 3, 7 and 40% allowable depletion treatments. Improvements and the first attempt to use the system in soybeans was accomplished in 2025, with a reduction of 4.2 ac-in/ac but a significant reduction of 4 bushels per acre. More work is needed to understand how to apply the system in furrow irrigated soybeans. Polymer-coated urea that were applied in-furrow show and UCAN that is fertigated show promise in improving yields as both were numerically higher than a reference urea plot and control urea plots by between 5 and 13 bushels per acre. 2026 Abstract - ROUNDTABLE SESSION - LESSONS LEARNED FROM MASTER IRRIGATORS: Programs in the region have helped irrigators learn new skills and with confidence make substantial changes to how irrigation is done on their farms. While technology is promoted as the solution to water management woes, it's understood that management is the key factor to actually improving irrigation on a farming operation. This session brings farmers from the mid-south with farmers from the high plains together to compare experiences with making initially uncomfortable, improvements on their farms.