PROFITS AND NITRATE LEACHING UNDER IRRIGATED CORN - A SIMULATION

The economic impact of reducing the amount of nitrate leached out of t he root zone under irrigation in the arid West was examined. The econo mic incentives of irrigation management were evaluated under the assum ptions of both profit-maximizing and utility-maximizing (in reducing c ost and effort expended in irrigation) decision-making criteria. The r esults indicate that there is a coincidence of interests of the farmer and the environment provided some leaching occurred. If no leaching i s allowed, profit decreases markedly. Both behaviors result in less ni trate leaching than less profitable or less utility-producing irrigati ng practices.