VALUATION OF IMPROVED IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY FROM AN EXHAUSTIBLE GROUNDWATER SOURCE<sup>1</sup>

Lee, John G.; Ellis, John R.; Lacewell, Ronald D.

doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.1985.tb00154.x

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…An estimated 17,817,000 acre-feet of ground water was pumped in 1980 (Heimes and Luckey, 1983). Decline soon followed because of physical depletion of the aquifer, increasing energy prices, and lower crop prices (Lee et al, 1985). Together, lower water availability and higher energy prices define the economic depletion of the aquifer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS¹

Kromm¹,

White

1990

J American Water Resour Assoc

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The High Plains has been viewed as an immense garden because of its highly productive agricultural system based on irrigation. But there is concern that the aquifers are being depleted and that the region may be returning to its natural state of a vast shortgrass prairie. Efforts to avoid this scenario and to ensure continued survival of the integrated agribusiness economy focus on conserving water in irrigation. This paper examines the adoption of 39 water-saving practices for ten counties in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The frequency of adoption was estimated from a survey of 709 irrigators, and the variance was found primarily to be a function of location and secondarily to be influenced by number of wells, type of irrigation system, depth to water, age, and education. Locational differences remained strong even when the influence of secondary factors were controlled.(KEY TERMS: irrigation; water-saving practices; groundwater depletion; High Plains.)where cotton fields, cotton gins, and denim mills prevail (Kromm and White, 1987). A quick glance suggests uniformity. Those flying over at 30,000 feet or driving across on interstate highways feel there is sameness. Center pivot sprinkler systems create circular fields that methodically extend over the landscape, most often at the rate of four to a section.Elsewhere, rectangular and square fields dominate, whether they are irrigated or not. Rough lands are primarily in pasture. But there are differences, and they are meaningful. For one, the techniques and equipment used in farming differ. And those practices and devices used to conserve water both reflect these differences and help account for them.The objectives of this study are to identify the range of water-saving practices, to determine the frequency with which they have been adopted by irrigators in the High Plains, and to discover those variables that are responsible for adoption variance. In our previous research, we viewed irrigators as a 'Paper No. 90049 of the Water Resources Bulletin. Discussions are open until October 1, 1991. 2Professors,

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS¹

Kromm¹,

White

1990

J American Water Resour Assoc

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“…In a comparison of low energy precision application (LEPA), drip, sprinkler, and furrow irrigation systems under Texas conditions, Hall et al (1988) found that LEPA sprinkler irrigation systems were the most profitable. However, Lee et al (1985) found that converting from furrow T surface to LEPA center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems was less profitable than improving the application efficiency of existing furrow surface systems. The study focused on cost of production and investment impacts of alternative irrigation systems and application efficiencies, but did not account for potential effects upon irrigated crop yields.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have indicated that a strong trend exists among irrigated crop producers in the Great Plains region to convert to more efficient irrigation systems and to adopt more water-efficient cropping systems in response to declining groundwater supplies (Lacewell, 1998;National Research Council (NRC), 1996; Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST), 1996; Lee et al, 1985). However, results vary in the Great Plains and other regions regarding which type of irrigation system is most profitable to use.…”

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confidence: 99%

CORN YIELDS AND PROFITABILITY FOR LOWâCAPACITY IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

O’Brien¹,

Lamm²,

Stone³

et al. 2001

Applied Engineering in Agriculture

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In many areas of the central U.S. Great Plains irrigation well capacities are decreasing due to declines in the Ogallala aquifer. Many producers using furrow surface irrigation are faced with a decision on whether they should convert to a higher efficiency center pivot sprinkler irrigation system. An irrigation scheduling model using 27 years of climatic data for western Kansas was combined with a corn yield production function and economic model to simulate crop yields and economics under four combinations of irrigation system and application efficiency for six different irrigation capacities. Center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems were found to give higher corn yields and greater profitability than furrow surface irrigation, particularly when system flow rates were less than 40 L/s. Sprinkler irrigation systems with application efficiencies of 100, 95, and 85% and a furrow surface irrigation system with 70% application efficiency produced simulated crop yields of 12.3, 12.2, 12.1, and 11.3 Mg/ha, respectively, when irrigation capacity was 6.35 mm/day. Reducing the irrigation capacity to 2.54 mm/day reduced yields to 9.4, 9.2, 8.9, and 8.3 Mg/ha for the respective irrigation systems. Net annual returns for a 65 ha field were increased by US$1000 to $4000 with center pivot sprinkler irrigation compared to furrow surface irrigation for system flow rates between approximately 20 and 40 L/s. Labor savings with sprinkler irrigation are a significant factor in profitability, but increased crop yields are also very important, particularly at lower system flow rates of approximately 20-30 L/s.

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Energy, water, and economic savings of improved production systems on the Texas High Plains

Masud

Lacewell

1990

Am J Alt Ag

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The purpose of this paper was to quantify economic and energy use implications of new improved irrigation and limited tillage production systems for the Texas High Plains. Per hectare uses of natural gas and electricity under alternative irrigation distribution systems for corn, sorghum, wheat, cotton, and soybeans were utilized to estimate total amounts of natural gas and electricity used in the production of these crops on the High Plains of Texas. The amount of diesel fuel used was estimated for conventional and limited tillage systems under dryland and irrigation production. Total amounts of water used for the five crops under the improved and conventional irrigation systems were also estimated for the High Plains. Results indicated improved irrigation and limited tillage systems reduced energy and water use on the High Plains. Total natural gas and electricity were estimated to decline over 20 percent, diesel fuel declined 32 percent, and water use for irrigation declined about 23 percent. Use of the improved irrigation and limited tillage production systems was also shown to significantly increase annual net returns to farmers ($40.0 million or 13.3 percent).

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VALUATION OF IMPROVED IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY FROM AN EXHAUSTIBLE GROUNDWATER SOURCE¹

Cited by 6 publications

References 1 publication

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS¹

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS¹

CORN YIELDS AND PROFITABILITY FOR LOWâCAPACITY IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Energy, water, and economic savings of improved production systems on the Texas High Plains

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VALUATION OF IMPROVED IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY FROM AN EXHAUSTIBLE GROUNDWATER SOURCE1

Cited by 6 publications

References 1 publication

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS1

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS1

CORN YIELDS AND PROFITABILITY FOR LOWâCAPACITY IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Energy, water, and economic savings of improved production systems on the Texas High Plains

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Product

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VALUATION OF IMPROVED IRRIGATION EFFICIENCY FROM AN EXHAUSTIBLE GROUNDWATER SOURCE¹

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS¹

ADOPTION OF WATER‐SAVING PRACTICES BY IRRIGATORS IN THE HIGH PLAINS¹

CORN YIELDS AND PROFITABILITY FOR LOWâCAPACITY IRRIGATION SYSTEMS