Modeling Cotton Lint Yield and Water Use Efficiency Responses to Irrigation Scheduling Using Cotton2K
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Decreasing groundwater supplies and increasing variability in weather challenge profitable cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in the Texas Rolling Plains. A modeling study was conducted using the Cotton2K model using weather data from 1980 to 2010 (31 yr) from the Texas Rolling Plains. Our objective was to study cotton yield, water use efficiency (WUE), and economic returns responses to irrigation, which included a combination of six evapotranspiration (ET) replacement levels (40, 60, 80, 100, 120, and 140% ET) and four irrigation durations (4, 6, 8, and 10 wk). The model was initially calibrated and validated using field data. Calibrated model was then used to run simulation scenarios. Maximum lint yield of 1838 kg ha1 was obtained by irrigating at 111% ET for 10 wk while maximum WUE of 2.65 kg ha1 mm1 was obtained by irrigating at 85% ET for 8 wk or 96% ET for 10 wk. This maximum lint yield required 530 mm of irrigation and 880 mm of total water. Maximum economic returns of US$1610 ha1 was obtained with 516 mm of irrigation water. However, if this amount of water is not available for irrigation, deficit irrigation at 85% ET for 8 wk is a good alternative strategy as it produced 1560 kg lint ha1 and $1240 ha1 economic returns with improved WUE. Our results indicate that scheduling irrigation by considering cotton ET demand could increase lint yield, WUE, and profit in the Texas Rolling Plains.Core Ideas Core IdeasCrop models can be used for agronomic and economic assessments.Core IdeasCotton2K can be used to simulate the yield of cotton in semiarid regions.Core Ideas85% ET replacement is a promising deficit irrigation strategy for the Texas Rolling Plains.
