Integrated Systems for the West Texas High Plains
V.G. Allen, P. Brown and R. Kellison
Texas Tech University
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Declining water quantity & quality
Growing global demand for food and feeds
Global warming
Increased pressure on agricultural lands
Water Challenges
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The Ogallala Aquifer
Provides 30% of total withdrawals from all US aquifers
Texas High Plains Over 95% of the water pumped
is for irrigated agriculture
Future Constraints: Government regulation Municipal uses Water quality Energy costs
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Decline in Water Level15 Counties around Lubbock, TX
1997-2007 2006-2007 Recharge
Source: High Plains Underground Water Conservation District, The Cross Section, April 2007
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Projected TotalWater Demand and Water Supplies
Livestock
Irrigation
Steam-electricManufacturingCounty-otherMunicipal
Mining
Existing supplies
Needs
Source: Texas Water Development Board 2007
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Regional Economic Impact
Total Industry Output: $ 26.8 billion
Ag Related Output: $ 10.8 billion
Agriculture: 40% of Total
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Texas High Plains Agriculture
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Irrigated Crops Over 4 million ac irrigated crops – 70% of total net crop revenue
Water source - Ogallala Aquifer
Virtually finite water source
New MexicoTexas
Oklahoma
Kansas
Nebraska
Colorado
South DakotaWyoming
MonoculturesEconomy of Scale
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20 – 25 % of U.S. Total
Monocultures Integrated Systems
Complimentarity
Diversification
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Designing Integrated Systems
Brain StormingPreviousResearch
Researchable Needs Producer
Experience
Funding Opportunities
ResourcesAvailable
TeamApproach
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Advisory CouncilRick Kellison, Chair Silver Creek Farm,
Lockney, TX
Curtis Griffith City Bank,
Lubbock, TX
Harry Hamilton Harry Hamilton and
Associates,Lubbock, TX
Minnie Lou Bradley Bradley 3 Ranch
Memphis, TX
Tom Sell Lubbock, TX
Steve Verett Plains Cotton Growers,
Inc., Lubbock, TX
Eddie Teeter Producer, Lockney, TX
Jim Conkwright High Plains
Underground Water Conservation District,
Lubbock, TX®
MonocultureCotton
Texas High Plains ExperienceTwo systems - irrigated
Rye
Integrated Crop-Livestock
Cotton
Wheat
Wheat
Fallow
Rye
Old world bluestem®
System Irrigation
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Nitrogen Fertilization
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Economics
Net Returns over Variable Costper acre inch of water
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Results
Irrigation use Soil erosion Nitrogen fertilizer use Energy required
Reduced
Profitability Carbon sequestration Soil microbial activity Diversification of income Management skills
Increased
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Photo by: Neal HinkleTexas Tech University
New Directions
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Ethanol
Dairy
Renewable energy
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Corn, Alfalfa, Small Grains
3000 Head Milking Cow Dairy
Annual feed and water required
Feed (all types): 44,686 tons Land to produce: 6,348 ac
Water required per year:– Irrigation: 2.3 billion gallons– Animal Consumption: 67 million gallons
Source: Southwest Plains Dairy Directory (2007)
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Senate Bill 1053
Senator Robert DuncanTexas Water Development Board$6.2 Million
Funded through the Texas Water Development Board
Texas Alliance for Water Conservation
‘Water is Our Future’
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Objectives of Project
Reduce Total Water Use
Enhance System Profitability
Identify Systems that meet objectives 1 &2
Understand system behavior
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Producer Board
Glen Schur, ChairPlainview, TX
Boyd Jackson, Co-Chair Lockney, TX
Brian Teeple, Secretary Floydada, TX
Keith Phillips Lockney, TX
Lanney Bennett Plainview, TX
Eddie Teeter Lockney, TX
Mark Beedy Floydada, TX
Jeff Don Terrell Floydada, TX
Jody Foster Lockney, TX
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A Cooperative Venture with TWDB
NRCS & ARS
Texas Tech University
Texas Alliance for Water Conservation
‘Water is Our Future’
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Crops/Livestock (Total 4,300 acres)
CornCotton
CottonMonocultures
Grain SorghumCotton
Cotton-Cattle Grass-cattle Grass seed
Site Monitoring
Data logger Satellite Telemetry Rainfall Tipping Bucket Temperature Sensor Water Flow Meter
System Pressure Sensor Solar Panel with backup battery
Neutron Probe Access tubes
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Irrigation Methods
Pivot
Drip
Flood
Dryland
Crops/Forage/Livestock GrownTAWC Sites
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Irrigation Water, System Inches
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Nitrogen Fertilizer per System Acre, lbs
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Net Returns per System Acre, $
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Returns (US $) per inch Irrigation Water
System
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Site 20 - 2006
Field 1 Corn silage
Field 2 (double cropped) Forage triticale Sorghum silage
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Site #20 – Yield and net returns ($)
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Site #20 – Irrigation
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Energy - Site 20 Forage (MJ/Ac)
Yield Fertilizer IrrigationFieldOps. Total Per Ton
Corn Silage 29.5 Tons 9,880 4,221 757 15,031 510
SorghumSilage 26.4 Tons 4,939 1,532 564 7,208 273
Triticale 21.3 Tons 2,453 1,703 961 5,290 248
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Cotton Monocultures (2 sites)Energy (MJ/Ac)
Yield Fertilizer Irrigation Chem. Total Per Bale
Drip Irrigated 4.1 Bales 3803 3235 2005 9556 2333
Sprinkler Irrigated 2.2 Bales 3549 1703 1500 7124 3252
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Meeting the Challenges Technologies
Unintended consequences
Economics
Environmental costs - index
Unique region
Long-term funding
Interdisciplinary teams
Integrating the pieces
Disseminating the information
Long-term systems research
Farm Programs
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