Abstract
The SWAT model equipped with an improved auto-irrigation function was used to assess the impacts of cultivation practices on irrigated and dryland cotton yield and water conservation in the Texas Panhandle. Results showed the largest irrigation depth led to reductions in irrigation and crop evapotranspiration (ETc) with slightly increased cotton yields compared to the baseline scenarios under different hydroclimatic regimes. However, soil water content and surface runoff values were increased when using the largest irrigation depth. The opposite results were observed for the small irrigation depth. Early planting of cotton resulted in decreased irrigation and ETc, and increased cotton yields under both irrigated and dryland conditions, particularly in normal and wet years. By contrast, the late planting scenarios indicated the opposite for those variables. Simulated hydrologic variables were relatively stable using various maturity cultivars. Nevertheless, greater than 10% reductions in irrigated cotton yield under diverse hydroclimatic years and dryland yields during normal and wet years were identified in the long-season cotton. The opposite was determined for the short-season cotton. These outcomes suggest that a larger irrigation depth, earlier planting date, and short-season cultivar are promising cultivation practices for improving cotton yield and water conservation in the Texas Panhandle.
Highlights
Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an economically significant fiber crop inTexas, United States (U.S.)
Climate and cultivation practices are treated as two major drivers affecting water conservation and crop production in the Texas Panhandle
Pursuing high cotton yield has driven the extensive use of the southern Ogallala Aquifer, which has resulted in a significant decline in the groundwater level with minimal recharge [4,5]
Summary
Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is an economically significant fiber crop inTexas, United States (U.S.). The semi-arid Texas Panhandle is one of the most essential cotton production regions in the U.S This region holds enormous potential for growing both irrigated and dryland cotton, where cotton was grown on ~1,755,000 ha in 2019, which accounted for approximately 32% of the U.S total cotton acreage [1]. Climate and cultivation practices are treated as two major drivers affecting water conservation and crop production in the Texas Panhandle. Pursuing high cotton yield has driven the extensive use of the southern Ogallala Aquifer, which has resulted in a significant decline in the groundwater level with minimal recharge [4,5]. Decreased groundwater levels have led to changes in cultivation practices that reduce water pumping from the southern Ogallala Aquifer while maintaining cotton profitability. Recommendations on alternative cultivation practices for cotton production, including using different maturity cultivars [6,7], irrigation application depths (per application) [8], and planting dates [9,10], are necessary to explore, which are relatively easy ways for growers to incorporate into an agricultural production system
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