Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T17:22:15.195Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Potential Water Use Conflicts Generated by Irrigated Agriculture in Rhode Island

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2017

Arthur Gold ,
Thomas Weaver ,
Edwin Porter  and
James Opaluch
Arthur Gold
Affiliation:
Natural Resource Sciences
Thomas Weaver
Affiliation:
Natural Resource Economics
Edwin Porter
Affiliation:
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
James Opaluch
Affiliation:
Natural Resource Economics
Get access

Abstract

This study constructs a simulation model to evaluate the potential for conflict among residential and agricultural users of water in southern Rhode Island. The model estimates the profitability of irrigation of turf farms and projects the total use and the economic value of irrigation water. The results indicate that the economic value of irrigation water compares favorably with current residential water prices in the area. In addition, substantial demand for irrigation water is projected. Given current rates of growth in turf acreage and residential water use, there appears to be a significant potential for conflict, particularly given the absence of well developed institutions for allocating water among users.

Type
Articles
Information
Northeastern Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics , Volume 17 , Issue 1 , April 1988 , pp. 8 - 14
Copyright
Copyright © 1988 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

The authors gratefully acknowledge helpful comments by two anonymous reviewers. This research was funded by the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Contribution (AES Contribution #2403).

References

Aronson, L.J. “Water Use and Drought Responses of Cool-Season Turfgrasses.” Unpublished , University of Rhode Island. 1986.Google Scholar
DeWit, C.T. “Transpiration and Crop Yields” Institute of Biological and Chemical Research on Field Crops and Herbage. Versl. Landbouwk. No. 64:6—Gravenhage. 1958.Google Scholar
Doorenbos, J. and Kassam, A.H. Yield Response to Water FAO Irr. and Drain. Paper No. 33 United Nations, Rome. 1979.Google Scholar
Doorenbos, J. and Pruitt, W.O. Crop Water Requirements FAO Irr. and Drain. Paper No. 24 United Nations, Rome. 1977.Google Scholar
Epstein, E. Variability of Drought in the Northeast Agr. Exp Sta. Tech Bul. No. 69 University of Maine, Orono. 1974.Google Scholar
Foster, H. and Beattie, B. “Urban Residential Demand for Water in the United States” Land Economics 55 (1979):43–58.Google Scholar
Gibbons, D.A. The Economic Value of Water Washington, D.C.: Resources for the Future. 1986.Google Scholar
Gilbert, J.T. and Lessley, B.V. Structure, Cost and Returns for the Maryland Turfgrass Industry Maryland Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. No. 492 University of Maryland, College Park. 1979.Google Scholar
Grabow, G. “Transferability of Selected Consumptive Use Equations in the Intermountain U.S.” unpublished . Utah State Univ, Logan, Utah. 1984.Google Scholar
Hanks, R.J. “Model for Predicting Plant Yield as Influenced by Water Use” Agronomy Journal 66 (1974):660–664.Google Scholar
Hill, R.W., Hanks, R., and Wright, J. “Crop Yield Adapted to Irrigation Scheduling Programs” presented to the Amer. Soc. of Agr. Eng. Chicago, Ill. 1983.Google Scholar
Hillel, Daniel. Fundamentals of Soil Physics. New York: Academic Press. 413 pp. 1980.Google Scholar
Howe, C. and Linaweaver, F. “The Impact of Price on Residential Water Demand and its Relation to System Design and Price Structure” Water Resources Research 3 (1967):13–32.Google Scholar
Mockus, V. “Estimates of Direct Runoff From Storm Rainfall.” Chapter 10 in Hydrology, Section 4, SCS National Engineering Handbook. Washington, D.C.: USDA pp. 10.1–10.13. 1964.Google Scholar
O’Neil, K.J., and Carrow, R.N. “Kentucky Bluegrass Growth and Water Use under Different Soil Compaction and Irrigation Regimes.” Agronomy Journal 74 (1982):933–936.Google Scholar
Opaluch, J.J. “Urban Residential Demand for Water in the United States: Further Discussion” Land Economics 58 (1982):225–228.Google Scholar
Opaluch, J.J. “A Test of Consumer Demand Response to Water Prices: Reply” Land Economics 60 (1984):417–421.Google Scholar
Peterson, M.R. and Hill, R.W. “Evapotranspiration from Small Conifers Grown for Christmas Trees.” Keller-Bliesner Engineering, Utah. 1984.Google Scholar
Porter, E. “Economic Returns to Irrigating Kentucky Bluegrass and Selected Nursery Crops in Rhode Island” Unpublished , Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, R.I. 1985.Google Scholar
Sachs, R.M., Kretchun, T., and Mock, T. “Minimum Irrigation Requirements for Landscape Plants” Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science 100 (1975):499–502.Google Scholar
Schwab, G.O., Fervert, R.K., Edminster, T.W., and Barnes, K.K. Soil and Water Conservation Engineering (New York: John Wiley and Sons). 525 pp. 1981.Google Scholar
Stewart, J. and Hagan, R. “Functions to Predict Effects of Crop Water Deficits” Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Division 99 (1973):421–439.Google Scholar
Sudar, R.A., Saxton, K.E., and Spomer, R.G. “A Predictive Model of Water Stress in Corn and Soybeans” Transactions of the ASAE 24 (1981):97–102.Google Scholar
Weaver, T.F. Irrigation Evaluation Under Monsoon Rainfall Patterns Cornell Intern. Agr. Dev. Bul. No. 10 Cornell University, Ithaca. 1968.Google Scholar