Opinions on irrigation water management tools and alternative irrigation sources by Farmers from the Delta Region of Mississippi

Authors: SINGH, GURBIR - Mississippi State University; QUINTANA ASHWELL, NICOLAS - Mississippi State University; KAUR, GURPREET - Mississippi State University; GHOLSON, DREW - Mississippi State University; Locke, Martin; KRUTZ, JASON - Mississippi State University; COOKE, TREY - Nature Conservancy

Submitted to: Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/22/2023
Publication Date: 9/25/2023
Citation: Singh, G., Quintana Ashwell, N.E., Kaur, G., Gholson, D., Locke, M.A., Krutz, J.L., Cooke, T. 2023. Opinions on irrigation water management tools and alternative irrigation sources by Farmers from the Delta Region of Mississippi. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education. 178(1);90-102. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2023.3395.x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2023.3395.x

Interpretive Summary: Water withdrawals for irrigation at an unsustainable rate have resulted in a decline in the groundwater levels in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA). This drawdown of groundwater threatens agricultural production in the Mississippi Delta. Available water resources need to be used effectively and efficiently to sustain and enhance agricultural productivity in this area. This study assesses the opinions of farmers on water conservation management practices and technologies that improve irrigation management and save water in the Mississippi Delta region based on data collected in an irrigation survey conducted in 2012. Most landowners believed that water conservation practices are effective in reducing irrigation water use, without reducing maximum crop yields, and have a positive return on investment. Land forming, tailwater recovery system, on-farm storage, instream weirs to pond surface water, computerized hole selection for furrow irrigation, short irrigation runs, and irrigation scheduling were considered efficient water conservation technologies by landowners. About 20 to 24% and 14.9 to 86% of survey respondents thought that on-farm storage and center pivot are inefficient water conservation practices for irrigating crops in the Mississippi Delta. The adoption of these practices may be increased if the landowners know the economic returns of implementing them.

Technical Abstract: Water withdrawals for irrigation at an unsustainable rate have resulted in a decline in the groundwater levels in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA). This drawdown of groundwater threatens agricultural production in the Mississippi Delta. Available water resources need to be used effectively and efficiently to sustain and enhance agricultural productivity in this area. This study assesses the opinions of farmers on water conservation management practices and technologies that improve irrigation management and save water in the Mississippi Delta region based on data collected in an irrigation survey conducted in 2012. Most landowners believed that water conservation practices are effective in reducing irrigation water use, without reducing maximum crop yields, and have a positive return on investment. Land forming, tailwater recovery system, on-farm storage, instream weirs to pond surface water, computerized hole selection for furrow irrigation, short irrigation runs, and irrigation scheduling were considered efficient water conservation technologies by landowners. About 20 to 24% and 14.9 to 86% of survey respondents thought that on-farm storage and center pivot are inefficient water conservation practices for irrigating crops in the Mississippi Delta. The adoption of these practices may be increased if the landowners know the economic returns of implementing them.