Likelihood of Irrigation Water Efficiency and Conservation Adoption by Producers in Eastern Arkansas

Arkansas is a leading state in groundwater use and application in the United States, as well as a top agricultural producer with a history of irrigated farming dating back over a century. Extensive monitoring of the primary irrigation water source, the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (alluvial aquifer), has shown a history of groundwater decline and only recent recharge. The objective of this study was to report the findings of a survey of producers in the region overlying the alluvial aquifer to determine the likelihood of adopting specific irrigation practices shown to either promote conservation of water or increase water use efficiency. This was completed using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Three models were developed to determine the adoption likelihood of tailwater recovery and surface storage, implementation of soil moisture sensors, and implementation of surge irrigation. Results show that portions of the TPB were present within each model, but that the strongest predictors were often prior adoption of other farm water management practices. It is suggested that, while social profiling may be a valuable tool to identify producers inclined to adopt farm water management practices, focus should be placed on individuals who have already adopted other practices.