scholarly journals Yields, Fruit Quality, and Water Use in a Jalapeno Pepper and Tomatoes under Open Field and High-tunnel Production Systems in the Texas High Plains

HortScience ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (10) ◽  
pp. 1632-1641
Author(s):  
Hyungmin Rho ◽  
Paul Colaizzi ◽  
James Gray ◽  
Li Paetzold ◽  
Qingwu Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Severe Weather ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Texas High Plains ◽  
High Winds

The Texas High Plains has a semi-arid, hot, windy climate that features high evapotranspiration (ET) demands for crop production. Irrigation is essential for vegetable production in the region, but it is constrained by depleting groundwater from the Ogallala Aquifer. High-tunnel (HT) production systems may reduce irrigation water demand and protect crops from severe weather events (e.g., hail, high wind, freezing) common to the region. The objective of this study was to compare yields, fruit quality, crop water use, and crop water use efficiency (WUE) of jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in HT and open field (OF) production systems. We hypothesized that the protection from dry and high winds by HT would improve yields and quality of fruits and reduce water use of peppers and tomatoes. During the 2018 and 2019 growing seasons, peppers and tomatoes were transplanted on two HT plots and two identical OF plots. Plastic mulch was used in combination with a surface drip irrigation system. Micrometeorological variables (incoming solar irradiance, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) and soil physical variables (soil temperature and volumetric soil water) were measured. Air temperatures were significantly higher during the daytime, and wind speed and light intensity were significantly lower in HT compared with OF. Despite the lower light intensity, yields were greater in HT compared with OF. The fruits grown in HT did not show significant differences in chemical quality attributes, such as ascorbic acid and lycopene contents, compared with those grown in OF. Because of protection from dry, high winds, plants in HT required less total water over the growing seasons compared with OF, resulting in increased WUE. The 2018 and 2019 data showed that HT production is advantageous as compared to conventional OF production in terms of increased WUE and severe weather risk mitigation for high-value vegetable production in the Texas High Plains.

scholarly journals Effects of Quality Considerations and Climate/Weather Information on the Management and Profitability of Cotton Production in the Texas High Plains

2002 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan L. Britt ◽  
Octavio A. Ramirez ◽  
Carlos E. Carpio
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Cotton Production ◽  
Cotton Lint ◽  
Weather Information ◽  
Irrigation Water Use ◽  
Texas High Plains ◽  
Seed Yields

Production function models for cotton lint yields, seed yields, turnout, and lint quality characteristics are developed for the Texas High Plains. They are used to evaluate the impacts of quality considerations and of climate/weather information on the management decisions and on the profitability and risk of irrigated cotton production systems. It is concluded that both quality considerations and improved climatic/weather information could have substantial effects on expected profitability and risk. These effects mainly occur because of changes in optimal variety selection and irrigation water use levels. Quality considerations in particular result in significantly lower irrigation water use levels regardless of the climate/weather information assumption, which has important scarce-resource use implications for the Texas High Plains.

Energy, water, and economic savings of improved production systems on the Texas High Plains

1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharif M. Masud ◽  
Ronald D. Lacewell
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Diesel Fuel ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Net Returns ◽  
Texas High Plains

AbstractThe purpose of this paper was to quantify economic and energy use implications of new improved irrigation and limited tillage production systems for the Texas High Plains. Per hectare uses of natural gas and electricity under alternative irrigation distribution systems for corn, sorghum, wheat, cotton, and soybeans were utilized to estimate total amounts of natural gas and electricity used in the production of these crops on the High Plains of Texas. The amount of diesel fuel used was estimated for conventional and limited tillage systems under dryland and irrigation production. Total amounts of water used for the five crops under the improved and conventional irrigation systems were also estimated for the High Plains. Results indicated improved irrigation and limited tillage systems reduced energy and water use on the High Plains. Total natural gas and electricity were estimated to decline over 20 percent, diesel fuel declined 32 percent, and water use for irrigation declined about 23 percent. Use of the improved irrigation and limited tillage production systems was also shown to significantly increase annual net returns to farmers ($40.0 million or 13.3 percent).

Estimating Crop Water Use of Cotton in the Texas High Plains

2010 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 1641-1651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nithya Rajan ◽  
Stephan J. Maas ◽  
James C. Kathilankal
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Crop Water Use ◽  
Texas High Plains

Irrigation Management Effects on Crop Water Productivity for Maize Production in the Texas High Plains

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-43
Author(s):  
Gary W. Marek ◽  
Thomas H. Marek ◽  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Yong Chen ◽  
Kevin R. Heflin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Productivity ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Crop Water Productivity ◽  
Texas High Plains ◽  
Management Effects

scholarly journals Corn and Sorghum ET, E, Yield, and CWP as Affected by Irrigation Application Method: SDI versus Mid-Elevation Spray Irrigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1377-1393
Author(s):  
Steven R. Evett ◽  
Gary W. Marek ◽  
Paul D. Colaizzi ◽  
David K. Brauer ◽  
Susan A. O’Shaughnessy
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Plant Height ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Full Irrigation ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Neutron Probe ◽  
Crop Water Productivity ◽  
Evaporative Loss

Abstract. Greater than 80% of the irrigated area in the Southern High Plains is served by center-pivot irrigation, but the area served by subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is increasing due to several factors including declining well yields and improved yields and crop water productivity (CWP), particularly for cotton. Not as well established is the degree to which the reduced soil water evaporation (E) in SDI systems affects the soil water balance, water available to the crop, and overall water savings. Grain corn ( L.) and sorghum ( L. Moench) were grown on four large weighing lysimeters at Bushland, Texas, in 2013 (corn), 2014 and 2015 (sorghum), and 2016 (corn). Evapotranspiration (ET) was measured using the lysimeters and using a neutron probe in the surrounding fields. Two of the lysimeters and surrounding fields were irrigated with SDI, and the other two were irrigated with mid-elevation spray application (MESA). The lysimeter-measured evaporative losses were 149 to 151 mm greater from sprinkler-irrigated corn fields than from SDI fields. When growing sorghum, the lysimeter-measured evaporative losses were 44 to 71 mm greater from sprinkler-irrigated fields than from SDI fields. The differences were affected by plant height and became smaller when plant height reached the height of the spray nozzles, indicating that the use of LEPA or LESA nozzles could decrease the evaporative losses from sprinkler-irrigated fields in this region with its high evaporative demand. Annual weather patterns also influenced the differences in evaporative loss, with increased differences in dry years. SDI reduced overall corn water use by 13% to 15%, as determined by neutron probe, while either not significantly affecting yield (2016) or increasing yield by up to 19% (2013) and increasing CWP by 37% (2013) to 13% (2016) as compared with MESA full irrigation. However, sorghum yield decreased by 15% and CWP decreased by 14% in 2014 when using SDI compared with MESA full irrigation due to an overly wet soil profile in the SDI fields and deep percolation that likely caused nutrient losses. In 2015, there were no significant sorghum yield differences between irrigation methods. Sorghum CWP was significantly greater (by 14%) in one SDI field in 2015 compared with MESA fully irrigated sorghum. Overall, sorghum CWP increased by 8% for SDI compared with MESA full irrigation in 2015. These results indicate that SDI will be successful for corn production in the Texas High Plains, but SDI is unlikely to benefit sorghum production. Keywords: Corn, Crop water productivity, Evaporative loss, Evapotranspiration, Irrigation application method, Sorghum, Water use efficiency, Weighing lysimeter.

Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems in the Texas High Plains: Productivity and Water Use

2014 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 831-843 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cody J. Zilverberg ◽  
C. Philip Brown ◽  
Paul Green ◽  
Michael L. Galyean ◽  
Vivien G. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Water Use ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Texas High Plains ◽  
Livestock Systems

scholarly journals Response of Drought-Tolerant Corn to Varying Irrigation Levels in the Texas High Plains

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 1365-1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A. O’Shaughnessy ◽  
MinYoung Kim ◽  
Manuel A. Andrade ◽  
Paul D. Colaizzi ◽  
Steven R. Evett
Keyword(s):  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Irrigation Treatment ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Treatment Level ◽  
Crop Water ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Texas High Plains ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
Use Efficiency

Abstract.Corn ( L.) for grain continues to be an important crop for livestock feed in the Texas High Plains (THP) region despite lackluster prices. It offers greater crop water productivity compared with other crops grown in the region but also has a relatively high water requirement, which must be met by irrigation. The sole water resource in the region is the Ogallala Aquifer, which is declining because withdrawals exceed recharge, and this is of major concern. Producers are interested in the performance of drought-tolerant (DT) corn, but data on DT crop production functions are limited. From 2015 to 2017, studies of DT corn response to different irrigation treatments were conducted in the THP at Bushland, Texas. Results showed that grain yields, seasonal evapotranspiration (ETc), and crop water use efficiency (WUE) varied significantly between seasons and among different DT hybrids. Comparisons between a mid-season (MS) and an early-maturing (EM) hybrid showed: (1) at the severe deficit irrigation treatment level, grain yields were low, but the EM hybrid produced 400% more grain; (2) at the moderate deficit irrigation treatment level, grain yields and ETc were similar; and (3) at the full irrigation treatment level, the EM hybrid required 75 mm less water, but it produced 24% less grain. Non-hail damaged MS DT corn produced grain yields that were numerically greater than conventional corn grown in the THP in an optimal year. However, during drought seasons, DT hybrid response was not improved over conventional hybrids under severe deficit irrigation. This study demonstrated that MS DT corn hybrid P1151AM, irrigated at a level that fully met evapotranspiration demand, resulted in grain yield and WUE levels that were near the upper limits for corn produced in the THP. Further research is needed to determine the constancy of response among different DT hybrids under favorable and drought conditions. Keywords: Center pivot, Deficit irrigation, Early-maturing corn, Hail damage, Mid-season corn, Variable-rate irrigation, Water use efficiency.

Water Use and Grain Yield in Drought-Tolerant Corn in the Texas High Plains

2015 ◽  
Vol 107 (5) ◽  
pp. 1922-1930 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Hao ◽  
Q. Xue ◽  
T. H. Marek ◽  
K. E. Jessup ◽  
J. Becker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Drought Tolerant ◽  
Texas High Plains

Lysimetric Evaluation of the APEX Model to Simulate Daily ET for Irrigated Crops in the Texas High Plains

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Saleh ◽  
Rewati Niraula ◽  
Gary W. Marek ◽  
Prasanna H. Gowda ◽  
David K. Brauer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Potential Evapotranspiration ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
High Plains ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Texas High Plains ◽  
Apex Model

Abstract. The NTT (Nutrient Tracking Tool) was designed to provide an opportunity for all users, including producers, to run complex simulation models, such as APEX (Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender), with the associated required databases. The APEX model currently nested within NTT provides estimates of the changes in nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sediment losses that are associated with management practices specified by the user. Five methods (Penman-Monteith, Penman, Priestley-Taylor, Hargreaves-Samani, and Baier-Robertson) for determining potential evapotranspiration (PET) are available as inputs for estimating actual ET. This study was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the ET values obtained from the five PET equations currently available in APEX using both onsite measured climate data and data from the NTT standard databases. The mean daily, monthly, and annual ET values predicted by each of the equations in APEX for a lysimeter field at the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory at Bushland, Texas, was compared to values measured for the 2001-2010 period. APEX generally underestimated ET with all PET methods (mostly during growing seasons) at both the daily and monthly levels but overpredicted for years when cotton was grown as the major cash crop due to overprediction of leaf area index during the senescing stage for cotton. The underprediction of ET in growing seasons was possibly from underprediction of rainfall due to estimation of rainfall for missing data. Overall, APEX was able to adequately (R2 = 0.82 and NSE = 0.80) predict mean monthly ET for major crops grown in the semi-arid Texas High Plains region. These results should reinforce confidence in APEX’s ability to simulate ET accurately for fully irrigated farms. ET predictions with the Hargreaves-Samani and Priestley-Taylor methods, which require limited data compared to the Penman and Penman-Monteith methods, were similar (p > 0.05, one-way ANOVA), with mean errors within 8.7% for measured weather data and 12.6% for NTT-generated weather data for both methods. This is encouraging because of the limited availability of measured climate data for the majority of locations in the world, including the U.S. Keywords: APEX, Evapotranspiration (ET), Irrigation, Lysimeters, NTT, Semiarid regions.

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