An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USA
The primary objective of this study is to estimate and evaluate the technical efficiency of irrigation water use in soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.) production in Louisiana, USA. We conducted a farm-level survey to assess information regarding irrigation cost, the volume of water applicat...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3193 |
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| author | Tej K. Gautam Krishna P. Paudel Kurt M. Guidry |
| author_facet | Tej K. Gautam Krishna P. Paudel Kurt M. Guidry |
| author_sort | Tej K. Gautam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The primary objective of this study is to estimate and evaluate the technical efficiency of irrigation water use in soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.) production in Louisiana, USA. We conducted a farm-level survey to assess information regarding irrigation cost, the volume of water application, and crop yield per acre during the crop year 2016. We use smoothed heterogeneous bootstrapping procedures in conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) and supplement it with a nonradial measure of efficiency known as the Russell measure. The irrigation efficiency scores obtained from both an input- and an output-based DEA approach indicate that producers are over-applying irrigation water by approximately 37 percent. The results provide evidence that an improvement in water management practices can optimize irrigation efficiency, leading to higher profits for the farmers by lowering the other input prices in the production process. The findings should provide a benchmarking tool to formulate an appropriate irrigation policy that enhances water conservation in crop production in regions with similar environmental conditions and soil characteristics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:50:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-895b2d2e3267442a8a2ed19f030f9922 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:50:57Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-895b2d2e3267442a8a2ed19f030f99222023-11-20T21:01:52ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-11-011211319310.3390/w12113193An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USATej K. Gautam0Krishna P. Paudel1Kurt M. Guidry2Rice Research & Extension Center, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Stuttgart, AR 72160, USADepartment of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University (LSU) and LSU Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USAH. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station, LSU Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70526, USAThe primary objective of this study is to estimate and evaluate the technical efficiency of irrigation water use in soybean (<i>Glycine max</i> L.) production in Louisiana, USA. We conducted a farm-level survey to assess information regarding irrigation cost, the volume of water application, and crop yield per acre during the crop year 2016. We use smoothed heterogeneous bootstrapping procedures in conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) and supplement it with a nonradial measure of efficiency known as the Russell measure. The irrigation efficiency scores obtained from both an input- and an output-based DEA approach indicate that producers are over-applying irrigation water by approximately 37 percent. The results provide evidence that an improvement in water management practices can optimize irrigation efficiency, leading to higher profits for the farmers by lowering the other input prices in the production process. The findings should provide a benchmarking tool to formulate an appropriate irrigation policy that enhances water conservation in crop production in regions with similar environmental conditions and soil characteristics.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3193irrigation efficiencydata envelopment analysisgroundwaterLouisianasoybeanssurvey |
| spellingShingle | Tej K. Gautam Krishna P. Paudel Kurt M. Guidry An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USA Water irrigation efficiency data envelopment analysis groundwater Louisiana soybeans survey |
| title | An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USA |
| title_full | An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USA |
| title_fullStr | An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USA |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USA |
| title_short | An Evaluation of Irrigation Water Use Efficiency in Crop Production Using a Data Envelopment Analysis Approach: A Case of Louisiana, USA |
| title_sort | evaluation of irrigation water use efficiency in crop production using a data envelopment analysis approach a case of louisiana usa |
| topic | irrigation efficiency data envelopment analysis groundwater Louisiana soybeans survey |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/3193 |
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