Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USA
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 groundwat...
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doaj-c663239f48fb4f268accfd8bd525c5d42021-04-02T11:12:46ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952020-07-01101083108310.3390/agronomy10081083Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USANicolas Quintana-Ashwell0Drew M. Gholson1L. Jason Krutz2Christopher G. Henry3Trey Cooke4National Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research, Mississippi State University, 4006 Old Leland Rd, Leland, MS 38756, USANational Center for Alluvial Aquifer Research, Mississippi State University, 4006 Old Leland Rd, Leland, MS 38756, USAMississippi Water Resources Research Institute, 885 Stone Blvd, Ballew Hall, Mississippi State University, Leland, MS 38756, USARice Research and Extension Center, University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, Stuttgart, AR 72160, USADelta Farmers Advocating Resource Management, Delta F.A.R.M., Stoneville, MS 38776, USAThis 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1083irrigationgroundwateralluvial aquiferwater conservation adoptionrow cropsMississippi Delta |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Nicolas Quintana-Ashwell Drew M. Gholson L. Jason Krutz Christopher G. Henry Trey Cooke |
spellingShingle |
Nicolas Quintana-Ashwell Drew M. Gholson L. Jason Krutz Christopher G. Henry Trey Cooke Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USA Agronomy irrigation groundwater alluvial aquifer water conservation adoption row crops Mississippi Delta |
author_facet |
Nicolas Quintana-Ashwell Drew M. Gholson L. Jason Krutz Christopher G. Henry Trey Cooke |
author_sort |
Nicolas Quintana-Ashwell |
title |
Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USA |
title_short |
Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USA |
title_full |
Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USA |
title_fullStr |
Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USA |
title_full_unstemmed |
Adoption of Water-Conserving Irrigation Practices among Row-crop Growers in Mississippi, USA |
title_sort |
adoption of water-conserving irrigation practices among row-crop growers in mississippi, usa |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Agronomy |
issn |
2073-4395 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
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. |
topic |
irrigation groundwater alluvial aquifer water conservation adoption row crops Mississippi Delta |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/10/8/1083 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT nicolasquintanaashwell adoptionofwaterconservingirrigationpracticesamongrowcropgrowersinmississippiusa AT drewmgholson adoptionofwaterconservingirrigationpracticesamongrowcropgrowersinmississippiusa AT ljasonkrutz adoptionofwaterconservingirrigationpracticesamongrowcropgrowersinmississippiusa AT christopherghenry adoptionofwaterconservingirrigationpracticesamongrowcropgrowersinmississippiusa AT treycooke adoptionofwaterconservingirrigationpracticesamongrowcropgrowersinmississippiusa |
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