Does Efficient Irrigation Technology Lead to Reduced Groundwater Extraction?: Empirical Evidence

Lisa Pfeiffer and C.-Y. Cynthia Lin Lawell

No 60927, 2010 Annual Meeting, July 25-27, 2010, Denver, Colorado from Agricultural and Applied Economics Association

Abstract: Policies that encourage the use of more efficiency irrigation technology are often viewed as effective, politically feasible methods to reduce the consumptive use of water for agricultural production. Despite their widespread use, these policies have not been subject to empirical evaluation. In this article, we evaluate the effect on groundwater extraction of a widespread conversion from traditional center pivot irrigation systems to higher efficiency dropped-nozzle center pivot systems that has occurred in western Kansas. State and national cost-share programs subsidized the conversion. We find that the programs have not had the intended effect; the shift to more efficient irrigation technology has not decreased the amount of water applied to a given crop, and has actually increased groundwater extraction through changing cropping patterns.

Keywords: Environmental Economics and Policy; Land Economics/Use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Journal Article: Does efficient irrigation technology lead to reduced groundwater extraction? Empirical evidence (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:aaea10:60927

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.60927

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