• Authors:
    • Abdou, A.
  • Source: American-Eurasian Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The study revealed the negative impact of international prices' fluctuation and increasing trends upon domestic plans to secure needs of price-subsidized bread in Egypt. Uncertainty with respect to international prices' changes call for neutralizing their influence on domestic prices. In this respect, the study suggested a contract agreement between the local authority and producers to deliver specific quotas of wheat and maize at prices determined in advance on bases of production costs and expected profitability of competitive crops, specifically clover, cotton and rice. The risk may still hold with respect to expected prices of competitive crops, rice in particular, as influenced by international price levels. However, such risk may be minimized if firmly activate regulations of irrigation water use, exerting limits upon rice's total acreage.
  • Authors:
    • Evans, N.
    • Agbola, F.
  • Source: Agricultural Systems
  • Volume: 107
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Although water markets have been in operation for nearly 30 years, previous empirical studies have ignored farmer's land use response to water trading in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB), Australia. A Nerlovian partial adjustment model of rice and cotton acreage response in the MDB were specified and estimated using data for the period 1965-2008. The results indicate that acreage response for rice and cotton with respect to the price of water are inelastic in both the short- and long-run. The findings of this study bring into question the effectiveness of water trading scheme as the primary means of ensuring the efficient use of water and highlight the need for other complementary measures in the MDB. The results of this study highlight the complex interdependencies of many factors that influence farmer's land use decisions and draw an important conclusion that although water trading has increased the efficient use of irrigated water, its impact on farmers' land use decisions has been too small to stimulate any significant reduction in irrigated water usage in the MDB. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Kizilay, H.
    • Akcaoz, H.
    • Akdemir, S.
  • Source: Journal of Food Agriculture & Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2 part 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: This research examines the energy use patterns and energy input-output analysis of apple production in the Antalya province, which is an important agricultural center in Turkey. Data for the apple production were collected from 90 apple farms by using a face-to-face survey method. The energy input of chemical fertilizer (41.03%), mainly nitrogen, has the biggest share in the total energy inputs followed by electricity (29.21%). The apple production consumed a total of 43,404.31 MJ ha -1. The energy ratio for apple was estimated to be 1.51. The specific energy, energy productivity, energy intensiveness and net energy yield were 1.59 MJ kg -1, 0.63 kg MJ -1, 3.31 MJ TL -1, and 22,103.83 MJ ha -1, respectively. The non-renewable form of energy input was 95.76% of the total energy input used in apple production compared to only 4.01% for the renewable form. The benefit-cost ratio of the cotton production was 1.48.
  • Authors:
    • Berger, P.
    • Santos, D.
    • Silva, T.
    • Aquino, R.
    • Aquino, L.
  • Source: REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE ENGENHARIA AGRICOLA E AMBIENTAL
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: This work aimed to evaluate the effect of phosphorus application in rainfed and irrigated crop on shoot dry matter, the absorption and nutrient exportation, and yield of cotton crop. The experiment was carried out in a Psament in the northeren part of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four replications in a factorial arrangement of two doses of P 2O 5 * two cropping systems. Two additional treatments in each system without phosphorus application completed six studied treatments. Accumulation of dry biomass, absorption and exportation of nutrients, and yield of seed cotton were evaluated. Phosphorus levels did not influence the accumulation of shoot dry biomass. P supply increased the exportation of P, Ca, Mg, S, and Mn under irrigated and of N, K, and Fe regardless of the cropping system. Irrigation increased the dry biomass of leaves, stems, and shoots at 80 days after emergency, and the absorption of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, and B, as well as their exportation by the crop. There was an increase in the number of bolls per plant, fiber yield and productivity through the irrigation use. Increasing productivity with P application was conditioned to irrigation.
  • Authors:
    • Yazdanpanah, N.
    • Kouhi, N.
    • Asadi, R.
  • Source: Journal of Food Agriculture & Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: With population growing throughout the world, it is necessary to optimize water use especially in agriculture land. In order to determine water use efficiency (WUE) of cotton using micro irrigation system, a field experiment was conducted in the Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Institute of Orzoueyeh, Kerman province. The experiment was carried out in split plot design based on Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments were comprised of three levels of crop water requirements (i.e. I-1 I-2 and I-3, that are irrigation based on 125, 100 and 75% water requirement, respectively) in main plot and two tape position as sub plot including conventional (r(1)) and alternative (r(2)) patterns. All treatments were assessed for productivity, water use and its efficiency, and economic issues, as well. The results showed that the yield obtained from I-1 was 379 and 1204 kg ha(-1) higher than that of I-2 and I-3, respectively. In addition, the obtained yield due to r(1) system was 377 kg ha(-1) more than in the r(2) pattern. However, interaction between treatments on crop yield indicated that the I(1)r(1) treatment resulted in the maximum yield. Despite of use water equality in sub plots, WUE in r(1) was 16% higher than in r(2). However, economic assessment exhibited that system cost in the r(2) in comparison with the r(1) was 11% lower.
  • Authors:
    • Balakrishna, A.
  • Source: Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Since the introduction of Bt cotton in India, there has been a serious debate going on its impact on cost, returns and productivity. Andhra Pradesh continue to be the largest cultivator of Bt cotton in India and it occupies third position among Indian cotton growing states both in terms of area as well as outturn. In this context, it would be appropriate to analyze the output and efficiency of inputs used in cotton cultivation in Andhra Pradesh state of India. The study is based on a sample survey of selected farmer households in cotton cultivating villages in Andhra Pradesh of India. The study used Multi-stage stratified random sampling method to select the respondents from among the farm households. A detailed structured questionnaire was used to conduct face-to-face interviews with the farmer households. The sample households among the cotton cultivating households who have cultivated non-Bt cotton during last year or last two years have been taken up to study the impact of the presence of technology. In order to ensure the accuracy of the data related to the previous year, care is taken in selection of farm households, those households who have maintained records. The data on input and output variables like cost of seed, cost of labor, cost of irrigation, cost of fertilizers, cost of pesticides and capital used for the both years were collected for the study. To overcome the conceptual problems in quantifying the impact of technology at two points of time, the value of inputs used and output produced was estimated at constant prices based on survey year's price. Also, it is considered the two periods used for the comparison are normal in terms of agro-climatic variables. The Cobb-Douglas production and decomposition analysis techniques were used to estimate the influence of factors and Bt technology on output change. The results of the estimated production functions reveal that seeds and fertilizer is the most important input to which output is highly responsive in both Bt and non-Bt cotton crop situations. The output elasticity of pesticide is higher in non-Bt cotton cultivation than that in Bt cotton cultivation. The decomposition revealed that the net impact of Bt technology alone is estimated to have increased the output by 10.88%. The adoption of Bt technology enabled the farmers to save inputs significantly. And the value of extra output produced per acre with adoption of Bt technology.
  • Authors:
    • Salakinakoppa, S.
    • Basavanneppa, M.
    • Biradar, D.
  • Source: Journal of Cotton Research and Development
  • Volume: 26
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A field experiment was carried out during kharif 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 at Agricultural Research Station, Siruguppa to study the response of Bt cotton to spacing and fertilizer levels under irrigated ecosystem. The results revealed that among the spacings, closer spacing of 90*45 cm produced significantly superior seed cotton yield (2243 kg/ha) over wider spacing of 90*90 cm (1867 kg/ha) and it was at par with 90*60 cm (2121 kg/ha). Among the fertilizer levels, application of 125 per cent NPK registered higher seed cotton yield over 75 per cent NPK but at par with application of 100 per cent NPK. On the contrary the ancillary data indicated that, higher seed cotton yield/plant (136.11 g/pl) and more bolls (40.46/pl) were observed in wider row spacing of 90*90 cm as compared to other spacings. In case of fertilizer levels more seed cotton yield/plant was observed in application of 125 per cent NPK (130.40 g/pl) as compared to 75 and 100 per cent fertilizer levels. Similar trend in bolls/plant, sympodia and boll weight were found as that of yield. Further, higher gross return (Rs.56774/ha), net returns (Rs.30837/ha) and B:C ratio (2.20) was recorded in closer spacing of 90*45 cm as compared to 90*90 cm. Among the fertilizer levels, application of 125 per cent RDF recorded maximum gross return (Rs.55256/ha), net returns (Rs.29415/ha) and B:C Ratio (2.15) which was significantly superior to 75 per cent NPK but at par with 100 per cent NPK. From the results, it can be concluded that, Bt cotton responds to closer spacing of 90*45 cm with the application of 100 per cent NPK for realizing higher yield and monetary advantages.
  • Authors:
    • dos Santos, C.
    • Sofiatti, V.
    • Bezerra, J.
    • da Silva, B.
    • Bezerra, B.
  • Source: Agricultural Water Management
  • Volume: 107
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: During the twentieth century, the cotton crop was the main agricultural product in the semiarid regions of Brazil, with over 3.2 million hectares planted. However, due to structural problems, this activity became uncompetitive and economically unfeasible, being virtually wiped out in the eighties. The revival of cotton growing in semiarid lands of Brazil is important to the regional economy. However, the adoptions of new technologies mainly related to the water use efficiency are needed. Thus, accurate ETc estimates are required for efficient irrigation management. The K-c method is a practical and reliable technique for estimating ETc, and has been vastly applied by the farmers in the semiarid lands of Brazil. However, the use of K-c values listed in FAO-56 can contribute to ETc estimates that are substantially different from actual ETc. Hence the importance of determining K-c values experimentally. A field study on sprinkler-irrigated cotton was carried out during the dry seasons of 2008 and 2009 years in the Apodi Plateau, Brazilian semiarid lands. This study aims to determine ETc and the K-c curve values using the Bowen Ratio Energy Balance (BREB) technique. The locally developed K-c curves are compared with generalized FAO K-c values adjusted for local climate and management. The ETc values were 716 mm and 754 mm in 2008 and 2009, respectively. These values were higher than those observed in other areas of Brazilian semiarid. These differences are attributed to weather heterogeneity in the region. The average of K-c values were 0.75, 1.09 and 0.80 for initial, middle and end, of growing season, respectively. These values were lower than the Kc-FAO-Adjusted to local conditions. For this reason, ETc values obtained from Kc-FAO-Adjusted were overestimated by 12% in both the years. The irrigation scheduling based on the Kc-FAO-Adjusted increases production cost and yield loss. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Mustian, J.
    • Bordovsky, J.
  • Source: Applied Engineering in Agriculture
  • Volume: 28
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The recent increase in the use of subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) for cotton production in the Texas High Plains has resulted in questions concerning drip lateral position and orientation relative to crop rows. Field experiments were conducted at Halfway, Texas to evaluate traditional SDI installations with crop rows spaced at 0.76 and 1.02 m; crop row to lateral offsets of 0.0, 0.13, 0.25, and 0.38 m; and crop rows perpendicularly crossing SDI laterals spaced at 0.76, 1.02, and 1.52 m. Traditionally installed SDI with cotton rows spaced at 0.76 m resulted in generally higher yield than those spaced at 1.02 in; however, differences were not significant over the 5-year period. Yields were significantly different between individual rows of adjacent row pairs irrigated with single SDI laterals when row offsets were greater than 0.25 m on 0.76-m row spacing. However, cotton plants from rows closest to the SDI lateral largely compensated for yield losses of rows farthest from the lateral. When considering perpendicularly crossing 1.52-m spaced laterals with 0.76-m wide crop rows, only modest declines in cotton lint yield (1.5% and 3.3%) occurred compared to traditional parallel row-lateral orientation with the same lateral and row spacing. With crop rows perpendicular to laterals, SDI lateral spacings resulted in average yields of 1802, 1869, and 1903 kg ha(-1) at distances of 1.52, 1.02, and 0.76 m, respectively. Orienting rows perpendicular to drip laterals using 0.76-m crop row widths resulted in significantly higher yields and irrigation water use efficiencies than 1.02-m row widths at high irrigation capacity. As water availability declines, these results will provide producers additional information on SDI installation and management.
  • Authors:
    • Villalobos, F.
    • Gomez-Macpherson, H.
    • Boulal, H.
  • Source: Field Crops Research
  • Volume: 130
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: In the Mediterranean region, conservation agriculture principles like minimum soil disturbance or retaining residues on soil surface are rarely applied in irrigated annual cropping systems. This paper compares a conservation agriculture practice, permanent bed planting (PB), with a conventional system in which the ridges are reformed annually (CB). Comparisons were made throughout a crop sequence of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L)-maize (Zea mays L) - cotton in which PB was introduced before the maize cropping. Traffic was controlled during the study. Both maize and cotton crops produced higher leaf area index and biomass under PB than CB and Sand 24% higher yield respectively though the yield benefit for maize was not significant. The PB system did not improve Water-use Efficiency but delayed water use until the later growth stages. Soil organic matter (SUM) was significantly higher in PB compared to CB one year after the introduction of the system, and this difference was due to higher SUM in the 0-0.05 m layer, particularly in the furrows. The lack of negative effects of PB on yield and the positive effects on SUM, coupled with increased water infiltration and reduced erosion shown in previous studies, point to the beneficial adoption of PB in the region assuming the patterns are confirmed in the longer term. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.