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Projects and Demonstrations
DASNR has more investment in water research, education, and public service than any other entity in the state. Our efforts are spread throughout the Division's research and extension programs and all academic departments. Below you will find information on select research projects that represent several areas of water and should be helpful to many different stakeholders.
Extension / Education
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The Soil, Water and Forage Analytical Laboratory at Oklahoma State University provides timely and reliable soil, water and animal waste testing. Farmers and ranchers use the test results to improve their production and minimize the impact of agriculture on the watershed. Visit the web site. (Dr. Hailin Zhang - Plant & Soil Sciences) | |
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Learn more about the hydrologic cycle (the movement of water on and under the earth's land surface) and the processes accompanying that movement... more (Dr. Garey Fox - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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Bioretention cells are landscaped areas designed to reduce runoff and improve water quality. There will soon be a prototype exhibited at the Oklahoma Botanical Garden... more (Dr. Glenn Brown - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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Structures are being installed in ditches and ponds with phosphorus-sorbing materials, such as fly ash, gypsum, and alum, to remove phosphorus from water runoff. There is a demonstration cell at the Botanical Garden... more (Dr. Chad Penn - Plant & Soil Sciences) | |
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A mobile rainfall simulator has been used to demonstrate best management practices for managing soil nutrients to farmers, homeowners, and students... more (Dr. Hailin Zhang - Plant & Soil Sciences) |
Research
Water Quality, Animal Waste Management, and Nutrient Management
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Instrumented watersheds on turfgrass at the Botanical Garden measure mass nutrient to determine water quality. (Dr. Greg Bell - Horticulture & Landscape Architecture) | |
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Reducing phosphorus (P) loss from land to water is becoming a critical issue. A rainfall simulator was used to study the relationship between soil P and the amount of P lost in runoff and erosion. As soil test P increases the potential for P loss also increases... more (Dr. Hailin Zhang - Plant & Soil Sciences) | |
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Researchers are looking at managing fertilizer (including poultry litter) applications to reduce water quality impacts. (Dr. Jason Warren - Plant & Soil Sciences) | |
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Earthworm macropore connect to a subsurface drain pipe. Macropores are thought to be important transporters of contaminants and bacteria to ground water... more (Dr. Garey Fox - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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Barren Fork is a field site for a subsurface phosphorus transport study... more (Dr. Garey Fox - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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Researchers are selecting and breeding water-use efficient and drought-tolerant ornamentals for Oklahoma. (Dr. Bruce Dunn - Horticulture & Landscape Architecture) | |
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The Soil, Water and Forage Analytical Laboratory at Oklahoma State University provides timely and reliable soil, water and animal waste testing. Farmers and ranchers use the test results to improve their production and minimize the impact of agriculture on the watershed. Visit the web site. (Dr. Hailin Zhang - Plant & Soil Sciences) | |
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Researchers have developed a computerized decision aid for land application of poultry litter, a helpful resource for citizens of Tulsa and those who manage agricultural lands in watersheds of NE Oklahoma. (Dr. Dan Storm - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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Bioretention cells are landscaped areas designed to reduce runoff and improve water quality. There will soon be a prototype exhibited at the Oklahoma Botanical Garden ...more (Dr. Glenn Brown - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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Structures are being installed in ditches and ponds with phosphorus-sorbing materials, such as fly ash, gypsum, and alum, to remove phosphorus from water runoff. There is a demonstration cell at the Botanical Garden... more (Dr. Chad Penn - Plant & Soil Sciences) |
Water Conservation and Drought Management including Cropping Systems
Managing Landscapes for Enhanced Water Yield (for gardeners and homeowners)
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SIP (Simple Irrigation Plan) is a web-based decision aid for lawn watering Visit the web site. (Al Sutherland - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering, Mesonet) | |
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Xeriscaping reduces the water needed in landscaping. (Dr. Mike Schnelle and David Hillock - Horticulture & Landscape Architecture) |
In Cropping Systems and Commercial Applications
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Conservation Tillage (low-till and no-till) allows more water to enter the soil; this leads to increased soil moisture, less soil erosion, better water quality in the surrounding watershed. Visit the web site. (Dr. Chad Godsey - Plant & Soil Sciences) | |
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A project is underway to develop turf grasses that are drought-resistant. (Drs. Dennis Martin and Justin Moss - Horticulture & Landscape Architecture; Dr. Yanqi Wu - Plant & Soil Sciences) |
Environmental Flows and Other Non-consumptive Water Values
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Researchers are working to determine the impacts of pumping water from alluvial aquifers on stream flow... more (Dr. Garey Fox - Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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Researchers conducted a study of Lake Tenkiller in which they assessed the recreational value of draw-downs in lake level. (Drs. Tracy Boyer, Art Stoecker, Larry Sanders - Agricultural Economics; Dr. Mike Smolen -Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering) | |
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How much water does eastern redcedar rob? Research on the Cross Timbers Experimental Range is trying to answer this question using instrumented watersheds and other devices... more (Drs. Don Turton and Chris Zou - Natural Resource Ecology & Management) |
