ECONOMIC COMPARISON OF SUBSURFACE DRIP AND CENTER PIVOT SPRINKLER IRRIGATION USING SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE

Static, single-time economic comparisons of subsurface drip irrigation and center pivot sprinkler irrigation systems for corn production are useful but do not accommodate broad changes in economic assumptions. An economic comparison decision tool was formulated in MS-Excel to allow producers and other interested parties to easily perform their own comparisons using their current individual assumptions or the latest suggestions from K-State Research and Extension. Tabular and graphical sensitivity results are provided on key economic factors including field size, SDI system cost and longevity, corn yield and selling price. The economic competitiveness of SDI systems increases with SDI longevity and overall corn yields and selling prices and also for smaller and irregular-shaped fields where center pivot sprinkler costs per unit area greatly increase.