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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Dawson, Georgia » National Peanut Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #190543

Title: ECONOMIC RETURNS OF IRRIGATED AND NON-IRRIGATED PEANUT BASED CROPPING SYSTEMS

Author
item Lamb, Marshall
item Rowland, Diane
item Sorensen, Ronald - Ron
item Butts, Christopher - Chris
item Faircloth, Wilson
item Nuti, Russell

Submitted to: Peanut Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2006
Publication Date: 8/15/2006
Citation: Lamb, M.C., Rowland, D., Sorensen, R.B., Butts, C.L., Faircloth, W.H., Nuti, R.C. 2006. Economic returns of irrigated and non-irrigated peanut based cropping systems. Peanut Science. 34:(1):10-16.

Interpretive Summary: Maintaining sustainable cropping systems depends on effective management of crop yield, price, and production costs. Several studies have focused on the yield responses associated with irrigation and differing crop rotation sequences. However, data and information on the economic returns associated with differing irrigated and non-irrigated rotation sequences produced under various commodity price scenarios is limited. Research was conducted at the USDA/ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory’s Multi-crop Irrigation Research Farm in Shellman, Georgia to determine the average net returns of irrigated and non-irrigated cropping systems consisting of peanut, cotton, and corn. Returns were defined as the 3 year average net returns of each cropping system and were calculated for each price level combination which resulted in 57 comparable average net returns for the irrigated and non-irrigated treatments. Net returns were influenced by rotation sequence, price, and irrigation.

Technical Abstract: Proper crop rotation is essential to maintaining high peanut yield and quality. However, the economic considerations of sustainable cropping systems must incorporate commodity prices, production costs, and yield responses of the crops within the cropping system. Research was conducted at the USDA/ARS National Peanut Research Laboratory’s Multi-crop Irrigation Research Farm in Shellman, Georgia to determine the average net returns of irrigated and non-irrigated cropping systems consisting of peanut (Arachis hypogea L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), and corn (Zea mays L.). Five replicated cropping systems provided data on yield responses from irrigated and non-irrigated rotation sequences defined as: continuous peanuts (PPP), cotton/peanuts/cotton (CPC), corn/peanuts/corn (MPM), cotton/cotton/peanuts (CCP), and cotton/corn/peanuts (CMP). The peanut yield in the PPP rotation was 2945 kg ha-1 in the non-irrigated treatment. Non-irrigated yields in CPC and MPM rotation sequences were 3512 and 3469 kg ha-1, respectively and yields in CCP and CMP rotation sequences were 4252 and 4201 kg ha-1, respectively. The peanut yield in the PPP rotation was 3636 kg ha-1 in the irrigated treatment. Irrigated yields in CPC and MPM rotation sequences were 4714 and 4669 kg ha-1, respectively and yields in CCP and CMP rotation sequences were 5295 and 5365 kg ha-1, respectively. The economic returns of the cropping systems were analyzed for 3 different price level combinations. Production costs (variable and fixed) were obtained from partial budgets. Returns were defined as the 3 year average net returns of each cropping system and were calculated for each price level combination which resulted in 57 comparable average net returns for the irrigated and non-irrigated treatments. Net returns were influenced by rotation sequence, price, and irrigation.