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Abstract
As concerns continue to mount regarding man induced impacts to the global climate, the
SHPT region could be faced with a unique scenario in which the net carbon balance should be
considered in the producer’s enterprise selection and production systems. Currently, the SHPT
produces nearly one third of the U.S. cotton crop. Under a potential cap and trade system the
challenge for the agricultural industry in the SHPT may be how to sustain the region’s economic
base and production capabilities. Thus, the objective of this study was to measure the net carbon
relationships between irrigated cotton and irrigated corn production systems on the SHPT using
data from the Texas Alliance for Water Conservation (TAWC, 2009). Due to the unique
management and production challenges in the SHPT, additional comparisons were made
regarding economic viability and irrigation efficiency. Within the parameters of this study, it is
apparent that irrigated corn has an advantage over cotton in both its ability to return carbon to the
soil, maintain profitability, and use water resources efficiently. If the agricultural industry is
included in CO2 regulation, it would appear that irrigated agricultural producers in the SHPT
who have the ability to move between irrigated cotton and corn should be aware of the
advantages corn possesses. However, even under changing commodity prices and profitability
scenarios, corn still presents a significant advantage over cotton in its ability to reduce
atmospheric CO2 by depositing larger amounts of biomass carbon into the soil.