Tuskegee University-Black Belt Photo-irrigation Project (TU-2BP)

The overall purpose of the TU-2BSP is to initiate effective demonstrations on LRF, NBF, SDF farms that provide the steady production capacity needed to meet the market opportunities that have become available because commercial retailers are seeking to market locally and sustainably grown produce to an increasingly health and environment conscious consumers.
Evaluate and demonstrate solar Energy systems for meeting on-farm Energy needs.
Evaluate and demonstrate the ability of coupled hoop houses and rainwater harvesting to provide the necessary resources to increase productivity for crops beyond their normal growing season.
Demonstrate and quantify the impacts of diversely powered microirrigation (drip) systems on soil ecological (chemical, physical, and/or biological) properties and their relationships with nutrient cycling, soil water availability, and plant/fruit growth.
Demonstrate and evaluate effectiveness and economics of innovative solar irrigation systems for small farm crop production in the Black Belt.
Demonstrate effective dissemination of results of technical assistance to small farmers regarding solar irrigation.