Optimal irrigation strategies: water as a limiting factor of production

Abstract

A study on optimal strategies for irrigation management is presented here based on economics of deficit irrigation. The relationships between bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) yields and season water depths, nitrogen dosis and crop prices were studied. The analysis involved quadractic production functions and linear cost functions. Results from previous experimental procedures developed at Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil, were used to determine how the above factors are interrelated and how they affect the economics aspects of deficit irrigation. According to N dose, the optimal water depth resulted in savings of water at 0.5 and 42 % of full irrigation. The highest net incomes were achieved with nitrogen dose of 90 kg/ha. Crop price was the most important factor determining the optimal irrigation strategy.