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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379534
Research Project: Precipitation and Irrigation Management to Optimize Profits from Crop Production

Location: Soil and Water Management Research

Title: Considering irrigation capacity for optimizing irrigated maize yield and profitability

Author
item Schwartz, Robert
item DOMINGUEZ, ALFONSO - University Of Castilla-La Mancha(UCLM)
item PARDO, JOSE - University Of Castilla-La Mancha(UCLM)
item MONTOYA, FRANCISCO - University Of Castilla-La Mancha(UCLM)
item GUERRERO, BRIDGET - West Texas A & M University
item BELL, JOURDAN - Texas A&M Agrilife

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/18/2020
Publication Date: 11/8/2020
Citation: Schwartz, R.C., Dominguez, A., Pardo, J.J., Montoya, F., Guerrero, B., Bell, J.M. 2020. Considering irrigation capacity for optimizing irrigated maize yield and profitability [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual International Meeting, November 8-12, 2020 (Virtual). Paper No. 127028.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In semiarid regions such as the southern U.S. Great Plains, groundwater resources for irrigation are declining as a result of aquifer depletion. Water shortages and increasing competition among users are forcing irrigators to reassess how water is allocated to crops so as to optimize productivity. Large declines in saturated thickness (>46m) in extensive areas of the High Plains Aquifer in Kansas and Texas has resulted in declining well yields and constrains the ability to optimally schedule irrigation during the growing season. Under constrained irrigation capacities, scheduling irrigation to maintain soil water above a certain stress threshold is usually not attainable except early in the growing season or during periods of above average precipitation. The principal management option producers have available to them is how to distribute water spatially within a field, managing a portion under deficit or full irrigation with the remaining area planted to a dryland crop or left fallow. Secondary management considerations include (i) varying the pivot speed to adjust the application depth and consequently the time between irrigations, (ii) choosing how to reduce the irrigated acreage by either withholding irrigation to a pivot sector or spans and (iii) pre-plant irrigation. Reducing irrigated acreage to accommodate reduced irrigation capacities has the advantage of reduced seed and other costs that can influence profitability. The objective of this study is to present a framework for optimizing planted acreage and management practices that would maximize long-term total yield and profitability for center pivot irrigated maize using a calibrated crop model. A secondary objective is to determine the optimal management in years with seasonal droughts that could provide actionable information for producers in conjunction with precipitation forecasts. The framework is utilized to optimize irrigation management of maize for several typical scenarios in the Texas High Plains.