While relatively new to the northern Texas Panhandle, cotton has a role in the region’s water conservation plan, as many farmers are proactively adopting drought-tolerant crops to extend the life of their water supply, said Jourdan Bell, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agronomist, Amarillo.
Cotton complements the existing irrigated corn production and can prolong the ability to maintain regional irrigation, Bell said.
In this region, cotton requires 12-24 inches of water per acre compared to the 24-30 inches per acre for corn, she said. But it is more than just the total seasonal water use that is playing a role in the viability of cotton, Bell said. It is the periods of water use.
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