Evaluating Economic Impacts of Various Irrigation Strategies for Cotton.

Crop models can be useful in evaluating competing strategies for irrigated cotton production.  In this study, the cotton model Cotton2K was used to simulate cotton yields under different irrigation strategies.  Specifically, cotton yields were simulated under irrigated and dryland conditions for several soil types.  Then, based on simulated yields, the costs of cotton production under these cropping strategies, and cotton pricing information, the economic impact of partitioning fields to various strategies (such as full irrigation and dryland) was determined.  These results were used to optimize cotton production based on simulations for many growing seasons, including a variety of seasonal weather conditions.  Results suggest the most profitable strategies for cotton production under the climate and soil conditions of the Texas High Plains.