©Agriculture Consortium of Texas Economic Impacts of Precision Farming in Irrigated Cotton Production

Spatial optimal nitrogen fertilizer application levels and net revenues in irrigated cotton production were derived. Results indicate that precision farming can improve the profitability, and potentially reduce the environmental damages associated with nitrogen fertilizer use in irrigated cotton production. KEY WORDS: precision farming, agricultural profitability, environmental impact Increased use of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals has contributed to the enhancement of agricultural productivity in recent decades. Currently, production agriculture is facing challenges, such as increasing costs of production, shortage of irrigation water, and increased public concern on the impacts of agricultural production on the environment. To survive in the highly competitive world market of agricultural commodities, agricultural producers must produce high quality products at low prices, while employing environmentally friendly practices. One way to accomplish these objectives is to adopt precision farming technology. Traditionally, optimal fertilizer use in agriculture has assumed spatial an