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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #203030
Title: Heat unit availability for cotton production in the Ogallala Aquifer Region of the United States

Author
item ESPARZA, ALLISON - EX FEDERAL EMPLOYEE
item Gowda, Prasanna
item Baumhardt, Roland - Louis
item MAREK, THOMAS - TCE, TAMU
item Howell, Terry

Submitted to: Journal of Cotton Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/5/2007
Publication Date: 9/30/2007
Citation: Esparza, A., Gowda, P., Baumhardt, R.L., Marek, T., Howell, T.A. 2007. Heat unit availability for cotton production in the Ogallala Aquifer Region of the United States. Journal of Cotton Science. 11(3):110-117.

Interpretive Summary: It is believed that cotton is a viable alternative crop to corn in the Central High Plains of the Ogallala Aquifer Region because of the availability of short season varieties, increased energy prices, less water requirements, and depleting groundwater levels. However, there has been no formal study conducted to document available total heat units between planting and harvesting dates for cotton, and their frequency to determine feasibility to grow cotton in the Ogallala Aquifer Region. In this study, we used a county-wise daily maximum and minimum air temperature database to assess climatic suitability for farming cotton in the Ogallala Aquifer Region. The time of planting, to initiate heat unit accumulation during the growing season, was determined based on the estimated daily minimum soil temperature from corresponding air temperature data. Results indicated that counties in the Central High Plains that include the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and southern Kansas are suitable for growing cotton. Significant water savings is possible if producers were to switch 50 percent of their irrigated corn acreage to cotton in counties that are suitable for cotton production.

Technical Abstract: Expansion in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production in the Ogallala Aquifer Region can be tied to early maturing varieties, rising energy costs, and declining water levels in the Ogallala Aquifer. However, the feasibility of growing cotton considering the availability of heat units in this region has not been determined. In this study, a 30-year (1971-2000), county-wide daily maximum and minimum air temperature database was used to assess heat unit availability for cotton production in the Ogallala Aquifer Region. The time of planting, to initiate heat unit accumulation during the growing season, was determined based on the estimated daily minimum soil temperature from corresponding air temperature data. A set of regression models developed for this purpose was found useful. Long term annual averages and exceedance probability curves for total heat units (THU) at 1-year and 2-year return periods were developed and used to identify counties that are suitable for cotton production. Comparison between the scenarios indicates that long-term THU averages are similar to that with 2-year return period. Of the 131 counties evaluated, 105 counties received 1000 (oC) or more heat units during the growing season at least once every two years. Results indicate that cotton is a suitable alternative crop for all counties in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and the majority of counties in southwest Kansas. However, management uncertainties on irrigation efficiencies, soil type, fertilizer and pest management practices, and planting and harvesting schedules may require further consideration for determining the feasibility of cotton production in the Ogallala Aquifer Region.