Irrigation Technology Adoption in the Texas High Plains

Abstract

As groundwater tables decline and irrigation costs increase, irrigators are expected to adjust their crop patterns, irrigation systems, and production practices. This study provides insight into the efficient path of irrigation technology adoption and examines the implications associated with this process. It was shown that (1) the efficient crop pattern is related to the groundwater supply condition, (2) declines in the proportion of high water requirement crops produced are rapid with high pumping lift and thin saturated thickness, and (3) declines in saturated thickness appear to have a greater impact on crop pattern and irrigated acreage than do increases in pumping lift. The rate of adoption is expected to be higher with more abundant groundwater.