This article identifies irrigated row-crop farmer factors associated with the adoption of water-conserving practices. The analysis is performed on data from a survey of irrigators in Mississippi. Regression results show that the amount of irrigated area, years of education, perception of a groundwater problem, and participation in conservation programs are positively associated with practice adoption; while number of years farming, growing rice, and pumping cost are negatively associated with adoption. However, not all factors are statistically significant for all practices. Survey results indicate that only a third of growers are aware of groundwater problems at the farm or state level; and this lack of awareness is related to whether farmers noticed a change in the depth to water distance in their irrigation wells. This evidence is consistent with a report to Congress from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that recommends policies promoting the use of: (1) more efficient irrigation technology and practices and (2) precision agriculture technologies, such as soil moisture sensors and irrigation automation.

This study was conducted to determine if root, shoot, and gas exchange traits of determinate and indeterminate soybean cultivars respond differently to soil water deficit. The effect of soil water deficit imposed 4 and 10 days after sowing on growth and development parameters of determinate and indeterminate soybeans was evaluated for 18 and 30 days in experiment I and II, respectively. At both 18 and 30 days after seeding, nearly all root, shoot, and physiological parameters were inversely correlated with the soil moisture level, and the adverse effects of drought stress were more evident in Progeny P5333RY than in Asgrow AG5332. For both cultivars, the effect of soil water deficit on net photosynthesis was mainly due to stomatal limitations. The developed algorithms for the plant processes based on the environmental productivity index were not different between the cultivars, suggesting that soybean plants respond in a similar way irrespective of their growth habits, probably due to the shorter period of water stress.

Recent improvements in climate modeling and consolidation within the agriculture and weather industries result in producers who are aware of relatively short-term weather patterns and can modify their cropping and irrigation strategies accordingly. Advances in breeding and genetics have improved stress tolerance of commercial corn hybrids and, along with seed treatment advances, allows seedlings to withstand cool, moist temperatures. Our work in the Mid-South USA region suggests that there are potential moisture savings with minor modifications to existing irrigation and agronomic practices. Data from over 14 farmer fields and four research stations over the 2013 to 2015 growing seasons suggest that by implementing minor irrigation modifications, we can improve yield by approximately 3 to 5 % (8 bu/A) and reduce the amount of water applied by 40 % all while increasing profitability. Planting date, plant population, and hybrid selection can also be optimized to improve the profitability of the system and lower risk.

Water level declines in the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVAA) are attributed largely to withdrawals for rice (Oryza sativa L.) irrigation. This study was performed to determine if alternative irrigation strategies for rice could reduce withdrawal from the MRVAA without having an adverse effect on yield and profitability. Research was conducted at 19 on‐farm locations across the Delta region of Mississippi from 2014 through 2016 to determine the effects of irrigation water management practice, i.e., conventional flood via cascade (CONV), multiple side inlet (MSI), and MSI coupled with alternate wetting and drying (AWD), on aquifer withdrawal, rough rice grain yield, irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), and net returns above irrigation costs. Compared to CONV and MSI, up to 39% less water was applied to AWD (P ˂ .0001). Rice grain yield for AWD was not different from either CONV or MSI (P = .1343), despite substantial reductions in water use. Relative to standard irrigation strategies, AWD maintained or increased net returns up to $238 ha⁻¹ for pumping depths from 5.5 m to 122 m and diesel prices from $0.42 L⁻¹ to $0.98 L⁻¹ (P ≤ .0003). Irrigation water use efficiency was up to 59% greater for AWD relative to conventional systems due to the positive effects of the former on water use while maintaining yield (P = .0034). These data demonstrate that AWD can reduce withdrawal from the MRVAA while maintaining or improving yield and net returns relative to irrigation strategies currently employed across the midsouthern USA rice belt.

This article identifies irrigated row-crop farmer factors associated with the adoption of water conserving practices. The analysis is performed on data from a survey of irrigators in Mississippi. Regression results show that the number of irrigated acres, years of education, perception of a groundwater problem, and participation in conservation programs are positively associated with practice adoption; while number of years farming, growing rice, and pumping cost are negatively associated with adoption. However, not all factors are statistically significant for all practices. Survey results indicate that only a third of growers are aware of groundwater problems at the farm or state level; and this lack of awareness is related to whether farmers noticed a change in the depth-to-water distance in their irrigation wells. This evidence is consistent with a report to Congress from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that recommends policies promoting the use of: (1) more efficient irrigation technology and practices and (2) precision agriculture technologies, such as soil moisture sensors and irrigation automation.