Jump to navigation

The University of Arizona Wordmark Line Logo White
College of Engineering
Home
  • Home
  • Give Today
  • Contact Us

Search form

  • About
    • History
    • Industry Partners
    • Outreach
    • Contact Us
  • Undergrad Programs
    • Admissions
    • Degrees
    • Courses
    • Advising
    • Scholarships & Financial Aid
    • Research & Internships
    • Student Clubs & Organizations
    • Student Success Programs
    • ABET Accreditation
  • Grad Programs
    • Admissions
    • Degrees
    • Courses
    • Advising
    • Research Focus Areas
    • Funding
  • Research
    • Focus Areas
  • Faculty & Staff
    • Faculty Directory
    • Staff Directory
    • Employee Resources
    • Open Positions
  • Alumni
    • Give Today
    • Job Board
  • News & Events
    • CAEM News Archive
    • Events
Faculty & Staff
Home / Faculty & Staff / Faculty / Donald Slack
Donald Slack
  • slackd@arizona.edu
    520.621.7230
    Profile on UA Biosystems Engineering Site

Donald Slack

  • Emeritus Professor of Biosystems Engineering
  • Professor of Watershed Management
  • Professor of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Mechanics
  • Professor, Arid Lands Resources Sciences Graduate Interdisciplinary Program
  • Dean's Chair for Excellence, Cecil Miller Families

Degrees

  • Doctor of Engineering - Honorary Agricultural Engineering
    • Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
    • NA
  • Ph.D. Agricultural Engineering
    • University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
    • Modeling the Uptake of Soil water by Plants
  • M.S. Agricultural Engineering
    • University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
    • Deflection of Pier Foundations Subjected to Lateral Loads
  • B.S. Agricultural Engineering
    • University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming
    • NA

Work Experience

  • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2012 - 2014)
  • Watershed Management and Eco-Hydrology, University of Arizona (2006 - 2020)
  • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2006 - 2020)
  • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (1991 - 2009)
  • University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (1984 - 2020)
  • University of Minnesota (1975 - 1984)
  • University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (1973 - 1975)
  • University of Kentucky (1970 - 1973)
  • Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand (1970 - 1973)
  • University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky (1966 - 1970)
  • City of Los Angeles - Bureau of Engineering (1965 - 1965)

Interests

Teaching

Soil and Water Resources Engineering; Watershed Engineering and Hydrology; Research Methods; Engineering Design

Research

Water Resources Engineering; Irrigation Engineering; Water Management; Biofuels Production and Utilization

Licensure & Certification

  • Professional Engineer, Kentucky State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors (1969)
  • Professional Engineer, Arizona State Board of Technical Registration (1985)

Selected Publications

Journals/Publications

  • Slack P,E., D. C., & Reyes-Esteves, R. G. (2019). Modeling Approaches for Determining Appropriate Depth of Subsurface Drip Irrigation Tubing in Alfalfa. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering - ASCE.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., & Reyes-Esteves, R. G. (2019). Modeling of soil water to insure a suitable depth and spacing of subsurface drip irrigation tubing for alfalfa. Revista Ingenieria Agricola y Biosystemas.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., Chaibandit, K., & Khonyai, S. (2017). Evaluation of the Water Footprint of Sugarcane in Eastern Thailand.. Engineering Journal, 21(5), 193-201. doi:DOI:10.4186/ej.2017.21.5.193.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., Reyes Esteves, R., Espejel, A., Oyorsaval, B., & Ma, Y. (2017). Subsurface Drip Irrigation: A Technology for Safer Irrigation of Vegetable Crops. Engineering and Applied Science Research, 44(2), 111-114.
  • Sanchez-Choen, I., Padilla, G. D., Valle, M. V., Slack P,E., D. C., Heilman, P., & Sandoval, A. P. (2015). A Decision Support System for Rainfed Agricultural Areas of Mexico. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 10.
  • Martinez-Cruz, T. E., Slack P,E., D. C., Ottman, M., & Ogden, K. L. (2014). THE WATER USE OF SWEET SORGHUM AND DEVELOPMENT OF CROP COEFFICIENTS. Irrigation and Drainage, 12.
  • Ogden, K. L., Slack, D. C., Ottman, M. J., & Cruz, T. E. (2014). The Water Use of Sweet Sorghum and Development of Crop Coefficients. Irrigation and Drainage.
  • Nearing, G. S., Moran, M. S., Thorp, K. R., D., C., & Slack, D. C. (2010). Likelihood parameter estimation for calibrating a soil moisture model using radar bakscatter. Remote Sensing of Environment, 114(11), 2564-2574.
  • Silvestry-Rodriguez, N., Bright, K. R., Slack, D. C., Uhlmann, D. R., & Gerba, C. P. (2008). Silver as a residual disinfectant to prevent biofilm formation in water distribution systems. APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, 74(5), 1639-1641.
  • Slack, D. C., Garcia, G., Roth, R., Hoenig, S., Segovia, R., Soto, R., & Frayre, A. (2008). Engineered Conservation Structures using Discarded Tires. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers - Conference on 21st Century Watershed Technology: Improving Water Quality and Environment 2008, 163-170.
  • Gerba, C. P., Slack, D. C., Uhlmann, D. R., Bright, K. R., & Silvestry-Rodriguez, N. (2007). Inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aeromonas hydrophila by silver in tap water. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH PART A - TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, 42(11), 1579-1584.
  • Martin, E. C., Slack, D. C., Tanksley, K. A., & Basso, B. (2006). Effects of fresh and composted dairy manure applications on alfalfa yield and the environment in Arizona. Agronomy Journal, 98(1), 80-84.
  • Jia, X., Larson, D., Slack, D., & Walworth, J. (2005). Electrokinetic control of nitrate movement in soil. Engineering Geology, 77(3-4 SPEC. ISS.), 273-283.
  • Salazar, R., Stone, J., Yakowitz, D., & Slack, D. (2005). Multicriteria analysis in an irrigation district in Mexico. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 131(6), 514-524.
  • Jia, X., Martin, E. C., & Slack, D. C. (2004). Temperature adjustment for reference evapotranspiration calculation in central Arizona. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 130(5), 384-390.

Proceedings Publications

  • Slack P,E., D. C., Didan, K., Nichols, M., & Cameron, D. (2019, September). A Hydrologic Engineering Analysis of a Failed Rangeland Water Control Structure on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. In V Congresso Nacional de Riego y Drenaje, COMEII 2019., 15p.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., Gerba, C. P., & Esteves, R. R. (2019, September). Application of Microbial Risk Assessment of Escherichia coli in Irrigation Water on a Lettuce Crop.. In V Congresso Nacional de Riego y Drenaje, COMEII 2019., 8p.
  • Rodriguez, J., Didan, K., Tong, D., Slack, D. C., & Yitayew, M. (2016, April 4-8, 2016). Downscaling MODIS Evapotranspiration via Area-to-Point Kriging in Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, Yuma, AZ. In INNOVATION MATCH MX 2015 – 2016. 1er Foro International de Talento Mexicano. Articulanto Conocimento Global., N/A.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., & Reyes Esteves, R. (2017, May). Modeling Approaches to Determination of Appropriate Depth of Subsurface Drip Irrigation Tubing in Alfalfa.. In XVIII Congresso Nacional de Especialistas en Irrigacion, 8p.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., & Reyes Esteves, R. (2017, November). Modeling of Soil Water to Insure a Suitable Depth and Spacing of Subsurface Drip Irrigation Tubing for Alfalfa. In III Congresso Nacional de Riego y Drenaje COMEII 2017, 12p.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., Esteves, R. R., Espejel, A., Oyorsaval, B., & Ma, Y. (2016, August). Subsurface Drip Irrigation: A Technology for Safer Irrigation of Vegetable Crops.. In Sixth Khon Kaen University International Engineering Conference - 2016, 7p.
  • Livingston, P. A., & Slack P,E., D. C. (2014, Spring). Management of the Schmutzdecke Layer in a Slow Sand Filter to Reuse Drainage Water from a Greenhouse. In 5th KKU International Engineering Conference, 5p.
  • Livingston, P. A., & Slack P,E., D. C. (2014, Spring). Pilot-Scale Continuous Conveyor Diffusion Extraction System for Sweet Sorghum. In 5th KKU International Engineering Conference, 5p.
  • Slack, D. C., & Livingston, P. A. (2013, April 1-4). Management of the Schmutzdecke Layer of a Slow Sand Filter. In 6th International Conference of TSAE. Thai Society of Agricultural Engineers, 6p.
  • Slack, D. C., Espinoza, P., Livingston, P. A., & Husman, S. (2013, April 1-4). A Continuous Growing and Harvesting Cycle for Sweet Sorghum for Ethanol Production. In 6th International Conference of TSAE. Thai Society of Agricultural Engineers, 5p.
  • Slack, D. C., Espinoza, P., McCraken, K., Rivera, M., York, G., & Livingston, P. A. (2013, April 1-4). Hydroponic Barley Fodder System. In 6th International Conference of TSAE. Thai Society of Agricultural Engineers, 7p.
  • Slack, D. C., Yanes, M., Lau, T., & Livingston, P. A. (2013, April 1-4). Pilot Scale Continuous Conveyor Diffusion Extraction System for Sweet Sorghum. In 6th International Conference of TSAE. Thai Society of Agricultural Engineers, 4.
  • , T., Slack, D., Ogden, K., & Ottman, M. (2012, May). THE EFFECT OF WATER STRESS ON SWEET SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CROP COEFFICIENTS. In 4th KKU International Engineering Conference.
  • Chandarana, U., Slack, D., & Momayez, M. (2012, May). A Review: Land Surface Changes Before and After Earthquake. In 4th KKU International Engineering Conference.
  • Slack, D. C., Rojas, I., Slack, C., Riley, M., & Orbach, M. (2012, May). Bioconversion of Lignocellulosic Components of Sweet Sorghum Stalks to Ethanol Utilizing Fungi and Yeast. In 4th KKU International Engineering Conference.

Poster Presentations

  • Gonzalez Cena, J. R., Gonzalez Cena, J. R., Slack, D. C., Slack, D. C., Babaeian, E., Babaeian, E., Tuller, M., & Tuller, M. (2016, November). A Comparison of Sequential and Conventional Flood Irrigation Under Field Conditions. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ: Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).
  • Gonzalez Cena, J. R., Slack, D. C., Babaeian, E., & Tuller, M. (2016, November). A Comparison of Sequential and Conventional Flood Irrigation Under Field Conditions. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Phoenix, AZ: Soil Science Society of America (SSSA).
  • , J., Mirjat, M., Slack, D., & Tuller, M. (2012, November). Alternating partial soil surface wetting to optimize leaching A model analysis. USCID Fall Conference. Managing Irrigation Systems in Today's Environment. Reno, Nevada: USCID Fall Conference.
  • Slack, D. (2011, September). Water Requirements of Wine Grapes in the Sonoita Wine Region of Arizona. University of Arizona Foundation - Board of Trustees and National Leadership Council. Tucson, AZ: UA Foundation, Board of Trustees and National Leadership Council.

Presentations

  • Slack P,E., D. C. (2019, November). Water for Arizona and the Southwest US. X Congreso Latino Americano y Del Caribe de Estudiantes de Ingeneria Agricola.. Texcoco de Mora, Mexico, Mexico: Asociacion Latinoamericana y del Caribe de Estudiantes de Ingenieria Agricola.
  • Slack P,E., D. C. (2019, September). Irrigation Trends and Challenges in Arizona and the SW US. V Congreso Nacional de Riego y Drenaje COMEII 2019. Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico: Mexican College of Engineers in Irrigation (COMEII).
  • Slack P,E., D. C., & Esteves, R. R. (2019, November). Sustaining Water for Desert Agriculture. IV Congreso Internacional y el XV Congreso Nacional Sobre Recursos Bioticos de Zonas Aridas. Bermajillo, Durango, Mexico: Chapingo Autonomous University, Zonas Aridas Campus.
  • Slack P,E., D. C. (2017, May). Feeding 9.7 Billion - Not Without Irrigation!. XVIII Congresso Nacional de Especialistas en Irrigacion. Monticello, Mexico: National Association of Irrigation Specialist (Mexico).
  • Slack P,E., D. C. (2017, October). Dual Ph.D. Program - ABE-UA and IAUIA - Chapingo. Invited Presentation to the Graduate Program in Agricultural Engineering and Alternative Use of Water at Chapingo Autonomous University. Texcoco de Mora, Mexico, Mexico: Chapingo Autonomous University.
  • Rodriguez, J., Didan, K., Yitayew, M., & Slack, D. C. (2016, 04). Downscaling MOIS Evapotranspiration via Area-to-Point Kriging in Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, Yuma, AZ. INNOVATION MATCH MX 2015 – 2016. 1er Foro International de Talento Mexicano. Articulanto Conocimento Global. April 4-8, 2016, Guadalajara, Mexico. Guadalajara, Mexico: INNOVATION MATCH MX 2015 – 2016.
  • Slack P,E., D. C. (2016, August). Sustaining Water for Desert Agriculture. Twelfth International Dryland Development Conference, "Sustainable Development of Drylands in the Post 2015 World". Alexandria, Egypt: International Dryland Development Commission.
  • Slack P,E., D. C. (2016, October). Sustaining Water for Desert Agriculture. XII Congresso Nacional Sobre Recursos Bioticos de Zonas Aridas. Bermajio, Durango, Mexico: Universidad Autonoma Chapingo - Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Aridas.
  • Slack P,E., D. C., Esteves, R. R., Ma, Y., Espejel, A., & Oyorsaval, B. (2016, August). Subsurface Drip Irrigation: A Technology for Safe Irrigation of Vegetable Crops with Recycled Water. Experts Meeting on Regional Action on Climate Change and Future Earth. Alexandria, Egypt: International Dryland Development Commission.
  • Slack, D. (2011). Irrigated Agriculture after Climate Change. 16th National Congress of the Association of Irrigation Specialists of Mexico. Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico: Association of Irrigation Specialists of Mexico.

Awards

  • Life Member of ATPAC
    • Association of Thai Professionals in America and Canada, Fall 2019
  • Doctor Honoris Causa (Honorary Doctorate)
    • Chapingo Autonomous University - Texcoco de Mora, Mexico, Summer I 2019
  • Doctor "Honoris Causa" (Honorary Doctorate)
    • Universidad Autonoma Chapingo (Chapingo Autonomous University), Texcoco de Mora, Estado de Mexico, Mexico, Fall 2018
  • Premio Nacional de Riego y Drenaje 2016 - Dr. Samuel Trueba Coronel
    • El Colegio Mexicano de Ingenieros en Irrigacion A.C., Fall 2016
  • Excellence in Global Education Award
    • University of Arizona, Office of Global Initiatives and Center for English as a Second Language, Fall 2014
  • Life Member
    • Thai Society of Agricultural Engineers, Spring 2013
  • Kishida International Award
    • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, Summer I 2011
  • Honorary Doctorate in Agricultural Engineering
    • Khon Kaen University - Khon Kaen, Thailand, Winter 2010
  • FACULTY & STAFF
  • Faculty Directory
  • Staff Directory
  • Employee Resources
  • Open Positions
  • Employee Resources
The University of Arizona
Department of Civil & Architectural Engineering & Mechanics
1209 E. Second St.
P.O. Box 210072
Tucson, AZ 85721
520.621.2266

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

 


University Privacy Statement

© 2023 The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of The University of Arizona.