Partial Factor Productivity, Agronomic Efficiency, and Economic Analyses of Maize in Wheat-Maize Cropping System in Pakistan

Getting maximum benefits from cereals do not lie in reducing N-rate and its number of splits but lowering cost per unit cereal production through higher yields. Field experiments were conducted on maize (Zea mays L.) at the New Developmental research Farm of NWFP (Northwest Frontier Province) Agricultural University Peshawar-Pakistan during 2002-03 and 2003-04 in order to investigate effects of variable rates of N and its time of application on the partial factor productivity (PFPN), agronomic efficiency (AEN), net returns (NR), value-cost ratio (VCR) and marginal returns (MR). The 2 x 3 x 6 factorial experiment was designed having two plant densities (D1 = 60,000 and D2 = 100,000 plants ha-1) and three N levels (N1 = 60, N2 = 120 and N3 = 180 kg N ha-1) applied to main plots, while six split application of N in different proportions were applied to subplots in two equal (T1), three equal (T2), three unequal (T3), four equal (T4), five equal (T5) and five unequal splits (T6) at sowing and with 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th irrigation at two wk intervals. Maize ranked first with maximum PFPN, AEN, NR, VCR and MR at higher than at lower plant density, and the increase in all these parameters studied in the experiments was more in 2003-04 as compared to 2002-03. Both PFPN and AEN showed negative relationship with increase in N rates and the cast that vary, but NR, VCR and MR showed positive relationship with increase in N rates and the cost that vary. Among time of N application, maximum PFPN, AEN, NR, VCR and MR were calculated when N was applied in five equal splits (T5) almost comparable with T4 and T6 but was more economical when compared with T1, T2, and T3. In conclusion, the findings suggest that growing maize at D2 applied with N3 in four to five splits is more economical in the wheat-maize cropping system of NWFP.maize, Zea mays L., planting density, nitrogen, agronomic efficiency, economics, Crop Production/Industries, Farm Management, International Development, Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,

Precipitation Enhancement: Water Management Strategy in Texas Panhandle Region

The Texas Panhandle is a semi-arid region with varied rainfall. The variation in rainfall leads to variation in the year-to-year production of agricultural products. Therefore the Texas Panhandle relies on irrigation to both increase and stabilize production. The Ogallala aquifer is the primary source of irrigation water in the region. Due to limited recharge, continued pumping from Ogallala aquifer has resulted in a declining water table. The continued requirements of agricultural, municipal, and industrial sectors emphasize the critical need for alternative water management strategies. Precipitation enhancement is one of the many water management strategies to reduce irrigation water demand

Cost Comparisons of Water Treatment Systems to Improve Water Quality for Municipal Use

Drinking water quality is the key factor for sustainability of life and well being of the human population. The quality of water in Texas High Plains generally is suitable for irrigation but doesn’t meet the drinking water standards with respect to certain dissolved constituents (dissolved solids/salinity, fluorides, chlorides and sulfate). Water treatment systems are costly and local communities have financial limitation to afford the required technology. Affordable water treatment facilities with low operating costs are needed to be introduced with an aim to implement cost effective solutions to water management problems. This study focuses on comparing operating costs and cost effectiveness of various drinking water treatment systems. It will serve as a tool to aid local communities’ decision making process to implement cost effective systems. The results will also be helpful in addressing issues pertaining to water management and planning specially for municipal use

ESTIMATING THE MVP AND OPTIMUM IRRIGATION LEVEL FOR GRAIN SORGHUM UTILIZING EVAPOTRANSPIRATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TEXAS PANHANDLE

Production data provided by commercial producers of grain sorghum is used to estimate response functions for three alternative management decision models. The evaluation of yield to the total water availability, irrigation, and water application as a percent of potential evapotranspiration. The three methods provide similar results, but each provides unique information and adds valuable information to the decision process. The value product functions and the energy cost function are used to determine the profit maximizing level of water application where adequate water to fully meet the crop needs is available and to determine the irrigation vs. no irrigation decision where water availability is limiting.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

UTILIZING CONDITIONAL PROBABILITIES IN DEVELOPING PRICE EXPECTATIONS FOR SELECTING OPTIMAL MARKETING ALTERNATIVES FOR FIXED RESOURCE COW/CALF OPERATORS IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE

The beef cattle enterprises for most of the 91% of producers in Texas with less than 100 cows represent secondary or supplemental enterprises utilizing discretionary labor and fixed physical resources. The decision making process is transformed from a variable resource allocation problem to a fixed resource problem. Reliable price and revenue expectation models are critical to selecting marketing alternatives that maximize the return to the fixed resource allocation. Price expectation models using expected values, price and revenue indexes, and conditional probabilities are developed using monthly average prices for 300-900 lb stocker steers at Amarillo, TX from 1992 to 2002.Livestock Production/Industries,

COMPARING PRODUCTION OPTIMIZATION STRATEGIES FOR TEXAS PANHANDLE PRODUCERS IN RESPONSE TO DECLINING WATER AVAILABILITY DUE TO DECLINE IN THE OGALLALA AQUIFER

In response to the declining availability of irrigation water from the Ogallala aquifer, irrigation at the level where MVP=MFC increases net returns over either irrigating to maximize production or meet 100% of the evapotranspiration (PET) requirements. This prolongs the economic life of the aquifer and increases the efficiency of irrigation.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Multi-year Water Allocation: A Policy Analysis for Groundwater Management and Conservation for Irrigated Agriculture

Heavy withdrawals from the most dependable source of groundwater in the Texas Panhandle, the Ogallala Aquifer, create an impending need for implementing water conservation policies. This study evaluates the policy option of multi-year water allocation coupled with water use restriction in four water deficit counties of Castro, Deafsmith, Parmer and Swisher over a sixty year planning horizon. Results indicate that the water use in the study area declines with progressive restriction rates accompanied by a substantial decrease in the net present value of net returns over sixty years and therefore it is important to analyze the socio-economic effects of implementing such a policy alternative.Multi-year allocation, Ogallala Aquifer, Texas Panhandle, Water conservation, Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Use of Weather Data and Evapotranspiration Requirements to Estimate the Marginal Value Product of Irrigation and the Profit Maximizing Irrigation Level for Corn in the Texas Panhandle

The declining availability of irrigation water from the Ogallala aquifer combined with increasing energy costs make irrigation strategies much more critical. Maximizing yield reduces profit by between $22 and$158 per acre depending on the combination of corn and natural gas prices.corn, irrigation efficiency, water response function, evapotranspiration, Crop Production/Industries, Land Economics/Use, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Integrating Stakeholder Input into Water Policy Development and Analysis

Agricultural water use is becoming an issue in much of the South due to population growth. Results of projects evaluating the impacts of conservation strategies aimed at reallocating or extending the life of water supplies are being met with great skepticism by stakeholder groups. In order to gain acceptance of results, it is essential that stakeholder groups be involved from the beginning in the identification of potential water conservation strategies and be kept informed throughout the project. The objective of this paper is to review previous attempts at involving stakeholders and the methodology currently being employed in the Ogallala Aquifer Project.conservation, Ogallala Aquifer, stakeholder, water policy, Agribusiness, Agricultural and Food Policy, Consumer/Household Economics, Q250, Q280,

Reducing Irrigation Water Demand with Cotton Production in West Texas

Due to declining water availability from the Ogallala Aquifer and increasing pumping costs, irrigation management options for cotton are analyzed. The study concludes that supplemental irrigation while meeting crop ET requirements is the most profitable option. Switching from corn to cotton production may reduce irrigation water demand in the region.Ogallala Aquifer, irrigated cotton, irrigation efficiency, water response function, input use optimization, ET, Texas Panhandle, Crop Production/Industries, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,