Cotton Profitability As Influenced by Rotation, Cultivar and Irrigation Level

Production agriculture in the Texas High Plains (THP) region is led by cotton and grain sorghum production.  New agricultural water restrictions and declining irrigation water availability are causing THP producers to reevaluate their water use decisions.  This study conducted an economic analysis comparing continuous cotton production and a cotton-grain sorghum rotation with an emphasis on irrigation capacity, crop rotation and cultivar.  The objective of this study was to compare cotton profitability as influenced by these factors.  Cotton yield and quality data were obtained from trials conducted at the Agricultural Complex for Advanced Research and Extension Systems (AG-CARES) research farm in Lamesa,TX, from the years 2009-2011.  A continuous cotton production system was compared to a 1:1 cotton-grain sorghum rotation.  Four cultivars were used in each of the cotton production systems.   Irrigation was supplied using a center-pivot and Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) techniques.  Both cropping systems were irrigated according to three irrigation strategies, a “base” irrigation amount, base minus 33%, and base plus 33%.