Abstract
We use the 2013 cotton precision farming survey data to study the adoption of irrigation technologies by cotton farmers in 14 states of the United States. We find that farmers with a higher irrigated yield, and who are from the Southern Plains (Texas and Oklahoma), adopt water-efficient irrigation technologies, such as sub-surface drip and trickle irrigation technologies. There are 10 irrigation technologies that farmers can adopt for cotton production in these 14 cotton-growing states. The intensity of the irrigation technologies, as measured by the number of irrigation technologies adopted in cotton production, is affected by the irrigated cotton yield realized, land holding (total land owned), education, computer use, and the origin of the cotton farmer being from the Southern Plains. We use a multivariate fractional regression model to identify land allocation by the different irrigation technologies used. Our results indicate that significant variables affecting land allocation with different irrigation technologies are the age of the operator, the cover crop, the information sources used, the per acre irrigated yield, the education, and the cotton farmer being from the Southern Plains.
Highlights
Frequent drought and inconsistent rainfall patterns necessitate the wise use of limited water resources
The positive marginal effect implies that cotton farmers in the region increase drip/trickle irrigation technology adoption by 191% as compared to cotton farmers in other regions
We considered three objectives; the first objective was to assess variables that affect water-efficient irrigation technology adoption using a probit model
Summary
Frequent drought and inconsistent rainfall patterns necessitate the wise use of limited water resources. Cotton farmers can increase their yield and net returns by adopting an irrigation technology. The choice of an irrigation technology depends on geographical location, land area, and various socioeconomic variables. The adoption of trickle and subsurface irrigation technologies, such as drip irrigation, helps to increase water use efficiency. A farmer’s choice to adopt new technologies depends on various factors: education, access to the technologies, age, size of land, and proximity to an urban area [1,2]. Farmers adopt a new technology to maximize utility and this utility maximization may come from increased profit, increased leisure, cost reduction, improved environment quality and being in the forefront of technology [3]
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