By Girisha Ganjegunte, Ph.D.
A multi-disciplinary (agronomy, soil science, plant physiology, engineering, and economics), multi-institutional and multi-location study is underway to evaluate the potential to adapt and increase acreage of canola in southern New Mexico and far west Texas using alternative irrigation water sources. This goal directly aligns with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Supplemental and Alternative Crops competitive grants program, namely expanded adaptation and increased acreage of U.S. of canola. Texas A&M University received funding through this program to: 1) Identify salt-tolerant cultivars of canola; 2) evaluate performance (physiological response and yield) of salt-tolerant canola cultivar(s) irrigated with marginal quality water irrigation; 3) determine changes to soil properties, including salinity, to develop appropriate and best management practices; and (4) evaluate the economic feasibility of producing winter canola with marginal water. Read More »
By Mike Stamm