Page 50 - Azerbaijan State University of Economics

THE JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES: THEORY AND PRACTICE

COST ANALYSIS AND WATER CONSERVATION
POTENTIAL OF IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN
THE TEXAS PANHANDLE WATER PLANNING AREA

Lal K. Almas, Ph.D.
Fulbright Scholar and Professor
Department of Agricultural Sciences
West Texas A&M University, Canyon, TX USA
E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Six irrigation systems are analyzed considering cost and potential water
savings. The investment cost of furrow and drip is $115,800 and
$260,120, respectively. The cost of quarter mile pivot ranges from
$59,000 to $64,000. Per acre-inch variable pumping cost ranges from
$9.96 to $14.86 assuming natural gas price $7.00 per MCF. Converting
current furrow acreage (60 percent application efficiency) to surge flow
(75 percent) would save between 4.84 and 5.25 million acre-feet (MAF)
of water over the 50-year time frame. Shifting irrigated acre to LESA
results in estimated total water savings of 8.13-8.57 MAF. Converting
all less efficient acreage to LEPA or drip increases estimated water
saving to 12.59-12.96 MAF and 13.83-14.28 MAF, respectively. The
total adoption of LEPA or drip would result in 18-20 percent reduction
in water used for irrigation while maintaining crop production at current
levels. Adoption of LEPA on acres currently under furrow irrigation
will save approximately $22 million annually in fuel costs. Additional
benefits can also be derived from savings in field operations performed
and chemigation.
The current mix of irrigation equipment used in the Texas Panhandle
suggests that there is a significant potential for water savings by
adopting advanced irrigation technology. However, economic feasibility
of adopting more expensive irrigation technology and water savings
resulting from it needs to be thoroughly assessed.

Key words: water savings, irrigation technology, economic feasibility.

JEL Classification Codes: Q15; Q25

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