Modeling long-term water use of irrigated cropping rotations in the Texas High Plains using SWAT

• Published in: Irrigation science Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 111 - 123
• Main Authors: Marek, G. W., Gowda, P. H., Marek, T. H., Porter, D. O., Baumhardt, R. L., Brauer, D. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural practices; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Aquatic Pollution; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change; Computer simulation; Corn; Cotton; Crop rotation; Crop yield; Crops; Environment; High plains; Hydrologic models; Irrigation; Irrigation water; Life Sciences; Original Paper; Plant growth; Sustainable Development; Triticum aestivum; Waste Water Technology; Water Industry/Water Technologies; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water resources management; Water use; Well capacity; Wheat; Winter wheat; ASW, USA, Texas; Continuous Corn; Southern High Plain; National Climatic Data Center; Cotton Yield; Winter Wheat
• ISSN: 0342-7188; 1432-1319
• DOI: 10.1007/s00271-016-0524-6

The Ogalalla Aquifer is used to supplement insufficient precipitation for agricultural production in the semiarid Texas High Plains. However, decades of pumping combined with minimal recharge has resulted in decreased well capacity in most areas. A calibrated Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to compare simulated yields, crop water use, and required irrigation for crop rotations of the region using measured long-term (90 years) historical weather data. Crop rotations included continuous corn and cotton, corn–cotton, sorghum–cotton, cotton–winter wheat, and corn–winter wheat. Results demonstrated that a calibrated SWAT model simulated crop water use and yields well for all listed crops except cotton. The plant growth algorithms in SWAT appear unable to simulate representative cotton yields typical of cotton management in the Texas High Plains. A work-around for a limitation of the auto-irrigate function in SWAT to be suspended during the dormancy period of winter wheat was also used. Summary statistics for crop yield, crop water use, and irrigation were presented for all rotations. Long-term water use of simulations and irrigation probability exceedance statistics are presented for all simulated crops. These data may serve as a decision support tool for producers considering crop rotation strategies.