Economic adjustments to groundwater depletion in the high plains: Do water-saving irrigation systems save water?

• Published in: American journal of agricultural economics Vol. 87; no. 1; pp. 147 - 159
• Main Authors: Peterson, Jeffrey M., Ding, Ya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden Oxford University Press 01-02-2005; American Agricultural Economics Association; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Agricultural economics; Agricultural production; aquifers; corn; Cost efficiency; crop production; Crops; decision support systems; dynamic programming; economic analysis; Economic theory; Efficiency; Flood irrigation; Floods; Groundwater; High Plains; irrigated farming; Irrigation; irrigation efficiency; irrigation scheduling; Irrigation systems; irrigation timing; Irrigation water; mathematical models; Ogallala aquifer; optimization; policy analysis; program evaluation; Q150; Q250; Rain; risk assessment; Risk aversion; Sprinkler irrigation; Studies; Water conservation; water table; water use; High Plains (United States); Kansas; Western states; United States > US; USA, Wyoming, High Plains; irrigation efficiency; High Plains; Q250; Ogallala aquifer; irrigation timing; water conservation; Q150
• ISSN: 0002-9092; 1467-8276
• DOI: 10.1111/j.0002-9092.2005.00708.x

A common policy prescription for conserving irrigation water is to promote more efficient or "water-saving" irrigation technologies. We develop a risk-programing model to quantify the effect of irrigation efficiency on irrigation water use in the High Plains, taking account of irrigation timing and well capacity limits. We find that optimal irrigation does not respond monotonically to changes in efficiency, although intermediate and high-efficiency systems both result in less water use than an inefficient flood system.