Abstract
Field research was conducted at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL) located near Clay Center, NE, in the growing seasons of 2011 to 2014. A partial economic analysis was conducted for maize (Zea mays L.) at nitrogen (N) fertilizer treatments of 0, 84, 140, 196, and under full irrigation (FIT), limited irrigation (75% FIT), and rainfed settings for all growing seasons and then compared to crop water productivity (CWP) measured as crop water use efficiency (CWUE) and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). Nitrogen fertilizer increased CWUE and IWUE in all growing seasons. The CWUE values ranged from 0.90 to and the IWUE values ranged from to . Operational costs and net income varied among treatments and across years. Irrigation and N fertilizer rate had an interacting effect () on both gross and net income in 2011, 2012, and 2013. Net income was maximized under rainfed settings with a N fertilizer rate between 140 (dry year) to (wet year); in contrast, the optimal N fertilizer rate under irrigated conditions was . Positive relationships were observed between relative net income (RNI) and CWUE with values of 0.72, 0.87, and 0.84 for rainfed, 75% FIT, and FIT, respectively, as well as between RNI and IWUE with an value of 0.96 for 75% FIT and 0.86 for FIT. Lower CWUE and IWUE values were associated with lower RNI. With consideration to CWUE, IWUE, and partial factor productivity of N, full irrigation management is recommended under non-water-limiting conditions and limited/deficit irrigation management strategies (e.g., 75% FIT) under water-limiting conditions, with N fertilizer rate not exceeding to achieve a high economic return for the study area.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 6 • June 2016
Copyright
© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 12, 2015
Accepted: Dec 28, 2015
Published online: Mar 18, 2016
Published in print: Jun 1, 2016
Discussion open until: Aug 18, 2016
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Agriculture
- Business management
- Chemical compounds
- Chemical elements
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Crops
- Economic factors
- Environmental engineering
- Fertilizers
- Irrigation
- Irrigation engineering
- Nitrogen
- Nutrient pollution
- Pollutants
- Pollution
- Practice and Profession
- Rain water
- Water (by type)
- Water and water resources
- Water conservation
- Water management
- Water policy
- Water pollution
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