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Assessing planting date effects on seasonal water use of full- and short-season maize using SWAT in the southern Ogallala Aquifer region

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Abstract

A SWAT model equipped with an alternative auto-irrigation algorithm was used to evaluate the effects of planting date on hybrid corn yield and seasonal water use in the Texas High Plains. Research field data from the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory at Bushland, TX and the Texas A&M AgriLife North Plains Research Field near Etter, TX were used for model calibration. A long-term weather data set was used to simulate continuous corn using five planting dates (15-April, 1-May, 15-May, 1-June, and 15-June) for both long- and short-season corn hybrids. Results suggested that delayed planting resulted in a reduction of seasonal water use for both hybrids. Reductions in seasonal irrigation between the 15-April and 15-June were 28 % and 31 % for long- and short-season hybrids, respectively, using an application depth of 25.4 mm. Corresponding reductions in yield were considerably less at 8.9 and 8.8 % for long- and short-season hybrids. Reduced irrigation was attributed to decreased temperature stress and lower evapotranspiration of the later growing season. However, simulation of long season corn for the 15-June planting resulted in late season cold temperature stress. Further analysis of 19.1 mm and 31.8 mm irrigation depths revealed the latter resulted in an average of 4.4 and 4.7 % reductions in seasonal irrigation for long- and short-season hybrids, respectively. Results from this assessment study suggest the delayed planting of corn may result in decreased irrigation while maintaining profitable yields, potentially reducing withdrawals from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas High Plains region.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by the Ogallala Aquifer Program, a consortium between USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Kansas State University, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Tech University, and West Texas A&M University. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory, 300 Simmons Rd., Unit 10, Bushland, TX, 79012, USA

    G. W. Marek, S. A. O’Shaughnessy & D. K. Brauer

  2. Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Texas A&M University, 2138 TAMU, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Y. Chen

  3. Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 6500 Amarillo Blvd W, Amarillo, TX, 79106, USA

    T. H. Marek & K. R. Heflin

  4. Forage and Livestock Production Unit, USDA-ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, 7207 West Cheyenne Street, El Reno, OK, 73036, USA

    P. H. Gowda

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  1. G. W. Marek
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  2. Y. Chen
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  3. T. H. Marek
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  4. K. R. Heflin
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  6. P. H. Gowda
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  7. D. K. Brauer
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Correspondence to G. W. Marek.

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Communicated by I. Kisekka.

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Marek, G.W., Chen, Y., Marek, T.H. et al. Assessing planting date effects on seasonal water use of full- and short-season maize using SWAT in the southern Ogallala Aquifer region. Irrig Sci 38, 77–87 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-019-00653-3

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