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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Jonesboro, Arkansas » Delta Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #404061
Research Project: Optimizing the Management of Irrigated Cropping Systems in the Lower Mississippi River Basin

Location: Delta Water Management Research

Title: Evaluating the Costs and Benefits of Using a Winter Cover Crop Mixture in a Furrow-Irrigated Rice System

Author
item KANANOOL, DIVYA - Arkansas State University
item TEWARI, RACHNA - University Of Tennessee
item GREEN, STEVE - Arkansas State University
item Massey, Joseph

Submitted to: Journal of Agribusiness
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/8/2023
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The use of winter cover crops is an important practice used to protect agricultural soils from erosion while also improving soil health. This study investigated the economics of using winter cover crops in a furrow-irrigated soybean-rice rotation on two farms in Northeast Arkansas. Results showed that use of winter cover crops is economically feasible for soybeans but result in economic losses when used in rice. When cover crops were not used, economic benefits were associated with switching from levee-rice to furrow-irrigated rice. These findings will assist producers in deciding how best to integrate cover crops into the soy-rice rotations.

Technical Abstract: This study examines the economics of three rice cropping systems: furrow-irrigation with winter cover crops (FRCC), furrow-irrigation without cover crops (FRNCC), and multiple-inlet rice irrigation (MIRI) serving as the rice control, followed by soybeans with (SBCC) and without cover crops (SBNCC) for two locations in Arkansas during 2019-2020 (Burdette) and 2020-2021(Walcott). Net returns at Burdette were higher in FRNCC, 2019 and SBNCC, 2020. Net returns were higher at Walcott in MIRI, 2020 and SBCC, 2021. The cost-benefit ratio was higher for soybean than rice. Partial budgets revealed positive net effects for changing from MIRI to FRNCC at Burdette, and for changing from FRNCC to FRCC at Walcott. Sensitivity analysis of the total seed, cover crop seed, herbicide, and fertilizer costs revealed that profit margins for both rice and soybeans were stable with slight fluctuations, except for FRCC (-1.7%) in 2019 at Burdette for a herbicide and fertilizer cost increase scenario.