This paper is one of a series resulting from institutional analysis
of photovoltaic (PV) acceptance. It reports the results of a study of
institutional factors influencing acceptance of center-pivot irrigation
in the Nebraska agricultural community. Center-pivot irrigation (CP) was
an interesting topic for study because (1) it was a major recently
introduced technological innovation in agriculture which (2) had
potentially detrimental attributes--water and energy intensity. A brief
historical review of the introduction and acceptance of center-pivot
irrigation in the Nebraska agricultural community is presented.
Institutions which were a likely part of this institutional arena
relative to CP introduction and acceptance were identified. Their likely
responses were hypothesized, then data collected regarding actual
response. Three broad conslusions are drawn. First, there were
definite, even controlling institutional influences in the acceptance of
CP in the Nebraska agricultural community. Second, acceptance was
facilitated in the Nebraska agricultural community because the innovation
differentiation process yielded secondary attributes of CP that met
prevailing social orders--productivity, automation, and felt need.
Third, the innovation differentiation process for CP in the Nebraska
agricultural community yielded both transformation and disconnection of
detrimental attributes, creating the circumstances for attribute
redefinition in the first instance and another innovation in the second
instance.DOE Contract no. EX-76-A-01-2295
