Abstract:
A study was conducted using data collected from a sample of mint and
vegetable farmers in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The study identifies the
influence of demographic differences, economic factors and irrigator attitudes on
irrigation efficiency.
Only two of the 19 characteristics theorized to influence irrigation
efficiency proved to be statistically significant in both of two models. These
significant variables, crop type (CROP), soil type (SOIL) suggest that a farmer's
irrigation efficiency is unaffected by personal characteristics or attitudes.
According to these results, the irrigator apparently applied the water that she
deemed necessary, a decision based solely on the needs of the crop and the water-holding
capacity of the soil.
