Ogallala Water

Dr. Marsalis’s research is centered on silage and hay production and sustainability in irrigated and dryland systems, cereal crops for forage and grain, and annual and perennial grasses, with a particular focus on how farmers can cut back on the amount of water and other inputs used to raise forage crops.  He is interested in understanding how drought-tolerant crops and varieties can be managed for maximum productivity and economic return to growers, for example, by crop selection, altering irrigation regimes, harvest timing, and reducing costly inputs. He feels that education of producers on crop management and water-saving techniques, carried out in various Extension programs throughout the state, is of utmost importance.

Dr. Marsalis on participating in the Ogallala Water CAP: "Finding ways to mitigate the impact of drought and low water supplies on forage producers in the region with grazing, hay, and  silage systems is critical,  and specifically for farmers in the Ogallala Aquifer region.  Much of the value of the Ogallala Water project will be derived from its compilation of information (old and new), collaborations, resource leveraging and expanded networks and ways of communicating information, which will ultimately benefit farmers and other agricultural professionals and industries throughout the Ogallala region."

Selected Publications

Lauriault, L.M., M.A. Marsalis, and D.M. VanLeeuwen. 2011. Selecting sorghum forages
for limited and full irrigation and rainfed conditions in semiarid, subtropical environments.
Forage and Grazinglands. Online. doi:10.1094/FG-2011-0819-03-RS.

Contreras-Govea, F.E., S. Soto-Navarro, D. Calderon, M. Marsalis, and L. Lauriault.
2011. Dry matter yield and nutritive value of cowpea and lablab in the Southern High
Plains of the USA. Forage and Grazinglands. Online. doi:10.1094/FG-2011-0819-02-RS.

Marsalis, M.A., S.V. Angadi, and F.E. Contreras-Govea. 2010. Dry matter yield and
nutritive value of corn, forage sorghum, and BMR forage sorghum at different plant
populations and nitrogen rates. Field Crops Res. 116(1-2): 52-57.

Idowu, J., M.A. Marsalis, and R. Flynn. 2012. Agronomic Principles to Help with
Farming during Drought Periods. NMSU Cooperative Extension Publication. Las Cruces,
NM. Guide A-147, October 2012.

Marsalis, M.A., L.M. Lauriault, and C. Trostle. 2012. Millets for Forage and Grain in New
Mexico and West Texas. NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Publication. Las Cruces,
NM. Guide A-417, July, 2012.

Lauriault, L.M., M.A. Marsalis, F.E. Contreras-Govea, and S.V. Angadi. 2009. Managing
Alfalfa During Drought. NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Publication. Las Cruces,
NM. Circular 646, October 2009.

Bean, B., and M.A. Marsalis. 2012. Corn and Sorghum Silage Production Considerations.
In Proceedings, 2012 High Plains Dairy Conference, Amarillo, TX, 7-8 March, 2012.
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.

Marsalis, M.A. 2011. Advantages of Forage Sorghum for Silage in Limited Input Systems.
In Proceedings, 2011 Western Alfalfa & Forage Conference, Las Vegas, NV, 11-13
December, 2011. UC Cooperative Extension, Plant Sciences Department, University of
California, Davis, CA 95616.