Degree Name
Master of Science
Department or Program
Agribusiness Economics
Advisor
Sanders, Dwight R
Abstract
Corn is the largest produced field crop in all of America. Corn is processed into many different varieties of foods.as well as products. Some of the main uses of corn, include, livestock feed, sweeteners, alcohol, and fuel ethanol. With many different uses it is important to produce mass amounts of corn. Corn is also one of the toughest crops, allowing it to be grown in many different climates and regions.
It is no secret that for any plant to grow as strong and healthy as possible, they must receive ample amounts of sunlight, nutrients, and of course, water. Without just one of these necessities, the plant could become sick or not be able to reach its full potential. People have known this to be true for centuries. In many different cultures around the world, farming has been a main source of food. For people in many cultures, they had to adapt and create ways to improve their crops regarding the harsh environments that they lived in. One of these techniques that was created and is still widely used today is irrigation. An irrigation system can help to provide water and nutrients to crops that may not receive enough naturally. Although these irrigation systems that are now used in today’s world are much larger and more efficient in first world countries, especially the United States, the purpose remains the same.
The goal of this research was to determine if the use of an irrigation system can help to increase the yield of corn. This study used multiple regression models with independent variables that included precipitation, temperature, and trend. It was examined that weather has a greater impact on non-irrigated corn yields than what it does on irrigated corn yields.