Cotton production potential and water conservation impact using the regional irrigation demand model of northern Texas

摘要

Revised irrigation demands are calculated for the 21 northernmost counties inTexas, identified as Region A, using the TAMA (Texas A&M–Amarillo) agriculturalwater use demand estimation model. Year 2000 demands are presented using theexisting mixture of crops, average evapotranspiration values and actual irrigationapplication practice values. Current demand values are expected to exceed theallowable water supply in several, intensively irrigated counties within the region.Thus, the alternative, lower water use crop of cotton is evaluated in terms ofsubstitution potential for the presently produced, more intensive water use crop ofcorn. Although cotton has significant, differing production requirements in northernTexas, successful production has been documented within the region at the NorthPlains Research Field (NPRF) and average yield parameters are presented.The water savings impact of converting percentages of county acreages fromcorn to cotton is reported and discussed. The water conservation impact to theOgallala aquifer is calculated over the region's current 60-year planning horizon. Thepotential impact of recent ethanol demands is briefly discussed.