Effects of Irrigation on Corn, Sorghum, and Soybean in the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain: An Economic Analysis

R. A. Wesley, L. G. Heatherly, C. D. Elmore and S. R. Spurlock

No 348207, USDA Miscellaneous from United States Department of Agriculture

Abstract: Field experiments were conducted from 1984 through 1991 to determine the agronomic and economic effect of irrigation on monocultures of com [Zea mays (L.)], sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] on Tunica clay soil (Vertic Haplaquept) in the Mississippi Delta. Irrigation increased the average yield of com and soybean 92 percent and sorghum 18 percent over the 8-year test period. Although seed yields of crops are often used to assess the values and relationships of various cropping practices, economic returns must ultimately be considered the deciding factor when establishing long-term cropping practices. The cropping systems with the highest average net returns per acre (in descending order) were irrigated com ($79.48), nonirrigated sorghum ($59.87), and irrigated soybean ($52.85). Average net returns of irrigated sorghum, nonirrigated com, and nonirrigated soybean were $19.01, -$9.44, and $24.73 per acre, respectively, and were not sufficient to cover land charges. These data indicate that irrigation increased the average net returns of com and soybean but not sorghum.

Keywords: Crop Production/Industries; Production Economics; Productivity Analysis; Research Methods/Statistical Methods; Resource/Energy Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16
Date: 1994-12
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:usdami:348207

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.348207

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