Premium
An Intraseasonal Dynamic Optimization Model to Allocate Irrigation Water between Crops
Author(s) -
Bryant Kelly J.,
Mjelde James W.,
Lacewell Ronald D.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
american journal of agricultural economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.949
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1467-8276
pISSN - 0002-9092
DOI - 10.2307/1243989
Subject(s) - sorghum , permanent wilting point , irrigation , agricultural engineering , crop , agronomy , environmental science , field corn , deficit irrigation , mathematics , irrigation management , field capacity , engineering , zea mays , biology
A dynamic programming model that allocates irrigations among competing crops, while allowing for stochastic weather patterns and temporary or permanent abandonment of one crop in dry periods, is presented. Fifteen intraseasonal irrigations are allocated between corn and sorghum fields on the southern Texas High Plains. Broad rules of thumb implied by the results suggest irrigating the driest field in any stage unless soil water is close to field capacity on both fields or below wilting point on corn. A crop simulation model is used to reduce the complicated decision rules into simpler strategies with similar net returns.