The economics of crop response to irrigation quantity and scheduling: an Arizona case study

This research provides crop-water response functions and associated economic analysis for cotton and wheat on fine-, medium-, and coarse-textured soils in Arizona. Crop-water response data is analyzed using regression analysis. The economic analysis estimates the impact of changing surface water prices, water lift depths, energy prices, and product prices on profit maximizing levels of water use, profits, and the demand of irrigation water. The profit maximizing quantities of water predicted from this research are compared to common practice, yield maximizing models, and other models.

Highlights of the empirical results for wheat production include: (1) the estimated crop-water production functions explain a large part of the variation in yield; (2) the soil texture models generally call for 6 inches or less water than yield maximizing models; and (3) the demand for-water is very inelastic except at the 600-foot pump level.

Highlights of the empirical results for cotton production include: (1) estimated crop-water production functions exhibit high 2 R s; (2) water applications suggested by the profit maximizing models correspond closely with all other models and (3) the demand for water in the production of cotton is very inelastic. Implications on farm management, government water policy, and research are given.

AZU_TD_BOX288_E9791_1980_23.pdf (1.74 MB)

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