|
|
Record Drought Prompts Crop, Lawn, Water Concerns
By
Aimee Nielson
 LEXINGTON,
Ky., (June 22, 2007) – University of Kentucky Agricultural
Meteorologist Tom Priddy said the period of February through May
has been the second driest in 113 years and June is not looking
any better with much of the state in severe hydrologic drought.
“We had just over 10 inches of precipitation from February
through May and normally we get about 4 inches per month during
that time,” Priddy said. “The only other year that was drier
during that period was back in 1941 with just over 6 inches.”
Priddy said the most recent Palmer Drought Severity Index put
western Kentucky into severe drought status. The eastern part of
the state was already in the severe category and the Bluegrass
is right on the verge of moving from moderate to severe. Central
Kentucky fared the best, but still is deep into moderate drought
status, needing more than 7 inches above normal rainfall to
recover.
As a result, the Kentucky Division of Water issued a water
shortage watch for 61 counties in the state. A watch status
means citizens in the water shortage watch area should prepare
to reduce non-essential uses of water if asked to do so by their
water providers.
In times of drought, Kentuckians naturally have concerns about
everything from crop survival to drinking water supplies and
lawn care. Priddy said spotty thunderstorms can go a long way in
helping agricultural pursuits.
“Even though we are now in both hydrologic and agricultural
drought, and crop moisture is reported to be abnormally dry with
prospects declining, we can still have a good crop year,” he
said. “I’ve seen years where we had record crops in times of
drought. A lot of that really depends on getting showers and
thunderstorms. Unfortunately spotty thunderstorms don’t usually
do anything to help hydrologic, or drinking water, drought.”
Lawns, depending on the types of grasses, can make it through
most times of drought. UK College of Agriculture Turf Specialist
A.J. Powell said one of the most important things homeowners can
do is selectively water their lawns.
“If you started watering your lawn weekly, you probably have a
green lawn but you may be starting to see financial
ramifications,” Powell said. “If most people let their lawns go
brown, they may look terrible but most will recover when we
start getting rain. You’re really better off not watering as
opposed to sporadic watering that could do more damage than
good.“
Although Powell said most lawns could recover, some homeowners
may have variety –specific questions about lawns comprised
primarily of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue.
"When (Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue) lawns go completely
brown, with little or no green leaves showing, you can expect
some kill or severe thinning of the grass," he said. "Kentucky
bluegrass is more quickly injured than tall fescue but both
grasses may die."
Perennial ryegrass lawns seldom will survive such heat and
drought, but Bermuda grass and zoysia grass lawns should have no
problem. Fine fescue, growing in semi- shady locations, usually
becomes dormant and recovers before the following spring.
“Low maintenance lawns with a mixture of turfgrasses and weeds,
and or lawns rarely fertilized with nitrogen, usually will
recover,” he said. “They certainly won't get better, but you
will not likely need to reseed.”
Portions of a lawn with good soil, protected by moderate shade
and north-facing slopes are more likely to survive. Very sandy
and heavy clay lawns suffer the most damage.
“It's important to remember that proper irrigation greatly will
aid the lawn during very hot weather,” Powell offered. “However,
if a lawn is over watered, and then suddenly the water is cut
off (during the heat and drought), it usually doesn’t have a
great chance of survival. When this type of lawn turns brown, it
is best to plan on reseeding.”
With possible water restrictions looming if Kentucky doesn’t
receive more rain soon, it’s always a good idea to be a good
water steward and conserve as much as possible.
According to Kentucky American Water Company, the average
Kentuckian uses approximately 168 gallons of water per day, with
only one gallon of that used for drinking and cooking.
The UK Cooperative Extension Service recommends several simple
ways to conserve water at home including turning off the water
while brushing teeth and washing hands, limiting showers to five
minutes, using five or fewer inches of water for tub baths,
repairing leaking faucets, checking for toilet leaks, washing
full loads of clothes, using a pan or sink of water to wash and
rinse dishes and then using rinse water to water plants, setting
automatic clothes and dishwashers to a shorter cycle if
possible, using a small pool for outside water play instead of a
sprinkler or water hose, and keeping a bottle or pitcher of
drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet
until water is cool.
Priddy said the immediate future doesn’t look very wet with a
forecast of above normal temperatures and below normal rainfall
through at least July 2.
“We could still get remnants from tropical storms that develop
in the Atlantic and that could help the situation,” he said.
For more information about drought conditions in Kentucky,
please visit the UK College of Agriculture Weather Center’s
Drought Information Web site.
The page offers drought condition updates, historical
information and forecasts, and has a way for those with
questions to “Ask the Experts” about drought related issues.
Submitted questions will be submitted to UK College of
Agriculture experts depending on subject matter. The Kentucky
Division of Water maintains a
drought monitoring center Web site.
The page shows current water supply shortage watches, warnings
and emergencies. |
Contact: Tom Priddy, 859-257-3000, ext. 245
A.J. Powell, 859-257-5606
|
|
The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
Questions/Comments,
e-mail the
webmaster
Copyright © 2001-2006 University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture,
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
News Home
Other Headlines This Week
More
News
RSS Now Available
for those
using news aggregation programs
College News
|
