U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research: Lubbock, TX
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Plains Area Lubbock, Texas Cropping Systems Research Laboratory Wind Erosion and Water Conservation Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            ALLEN, VIVIEN - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            BROWN, C - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            KELLISON, R - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            GREEN, P - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            ZILVERBERG, C - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            JOHNSON, P - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            WEINHEIMER, J - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            WHEELER, T - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            SEGARRA, E - Texas Tech Universityitem
                                            Acosta-Martinez, Veronicaitem
                                            Zobeck, Teddyitem
                                            CONKWRIGHT, J - High Plains Underground Water Conservation District
  Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
                                    Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 8/5/2012
                                    Publication  Date: 9/24/2012
                                    Citation: Allen, V.G., Brown, C.P., Kellison, R., Green, P., Zilverberg, C.J., Johnson, P., Weinheimer, J., Wheeler, T., Segarra, E., Acosta Martinez, V., Zobeck, T.M., Conkwright, J.C. 2012. Integrating cotton and beef production to reduce water withdrawal from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Southern High Plains: I. Ten-years of effect on water use and productivity. Agronomy Journal. 104(6):1625-1642.Interpretive Summary: An interdisciplinary research team from Texas Tech University, Texas AgriLife, High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 and USDA-ARS has evaluated the economic profitability, energy and associated C cost, soil microbial community composition and functionality, soil aggregation and C distribution for integrated livestock and crop production systems in the Texas High Plains.  In this region, agriculture is largely dependent on irrigation water from the Ogallala aquifer , however, the region is experiencing water availability problems due to significant reductions in the water available from this aquifer. Integrating crop and livestock production has been suggested to conserve water and to achieve other environmental and economic goals compared with monoculture cotton production.  Thus, from 1998 to 2008, comparisons were made of replicated systems of 1) a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) monoculture, and 2) an integrated 3-paddock system that included cotton in a 2-paddock rotation with grazed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) and the perennial ‘WW-B. Dahl’ old world bluestem [Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz) S.T. Blake]) for grazing and seed production.  During the 10 years of this experiment, cotton lint yield was similar and averaged 1,370 kg ha-1 for both systems.  Bluestem seed yield averaged 25 kg pure live seed ha-1. Steers gained 139 kg on pasture and 0.79 kg d-1. Per hectare, the integrated system used 25% less (P < 0.001) irrigation water, 36% less N fertilizer, and fewer other chemical inputs than monoculture cotton.  Integrated production systems that are less dependent on irrigation and chemical inputs appear possible while achieving goals of sustainability, fiber production, and food security.
                                Technical Abstract: Texas High Plains agriculture, largely dependent on water from the Ogallala aquifer for irrigation, exemplifies semi-arid agricultural regions where irrigation is used at non-sustainable rates of extraction. Integrating crop and livestock systems has been suggested to conserve water and to achieve other environmental and economic goals compared with monoculture systems.  Thus, from 1998 to 2008, two large-scale systems, with 3 blocks in a randomized block design, compared water and other input use and productivity of 1) a cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) monoculture, and 2) an integrated 3-paddock system that included cotton in a 2-paddock rotation with grazed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) and the perennial ‘WW-B. Dahl’ old world bluestem [Bothriochloa bladhii (Retz) S.T. Blake]) for grazing and seed production. All paddocks were irrigated by sub-surface drip. Angus crossbred beef steers (Bos taurus L.; initial BW 229 kg; SD= 33 kg) grazed 185 d from January to mid-July. During the 10 yr of this experiment following the establishment year, cotton lint yield was similar and averaged 1,370 kg ha-1 for both systems.   Bluestem seed yield averaged 25 kg pure live seed ha-1. Steers gained 139 kg on pasture and 0.79 kg d-1. Per hectare, the integrated system used 25% less (P < 0.001) irrigation water, 36% less N fertilizer, and fewer other chemical inputs than monoculture  cotton.  Integrated production systems that are less dependent on irrigation and chemical inputs appear possible while achieving goals of sustainability, fiber production, and food security.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov