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​Utah State has an extensive array of calculators specific to water and irrigation​​​

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​here is a discussion of ROI for subsurface membrane:

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(  It's hard to put a price on subsurface membrane making the difference between surviving

and farm reverting to grazing )

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The knowns:

1.  current average yield per acre ( expressed in units of weight, bales or bushels )

2.  average current farm gate price

3.  cost for membrane:  $2,000per acre ( illustration only ) 

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The unquantified: 

increased yield per acre

premium for better quality

Savings from lowered inputs of water usage and less fertilizer. 

Premium for better quality

Possibly only one sowing and less seed

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The very basic equation starting point:

Yield multiplied by price =  gross $ yield per acre.

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For net improvement: 

( improved yield per acre ) X ( farm gate price ) minus ( extant yield per acre ) = net $ yield gain per acre

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divide net gain into $ 2,000 to derive breakeven point ( number of growing seasons )

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Let's substitute corn.

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Assumptions for illustration only:

We know:

1. the average yield is about 179 bushels per acre

2. The price for feed grade corn is $ 7.50 per bushel

3. The yield per acre is $ 1,342

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Some research has set records for corn production topping out at 174% increase.
Let's say the increased yield is only half of that, or 87 %.

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That makes the new yield 334 bushels per acre

334 bushels X  $ 7.50 = $ 2,505 per acre

The incremental revenue per acre: $1,163

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Divide $1,163 into $2,000 = 0.72 seasons break even

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( There are no levels for feed grade )

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Cotton is a bit more complex
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Cotton classing is well defined by eight criteria. 

The best upland cotton can fetch a price of $ 0.94 per pound​

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Starting with only yield and constant price per pound of $ 0.64 per pound -

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Assumptions for starting point :

1.The expected 2025 average yield in west Texas is 573 pounds per acre.

2. The farm gate price is about $0.64 per pound

3. Current average yield per acre: $ 367

4. The increased yield from the " alpha " phase was 104 %.

4.1  the fiber length was longer, but not enough data to quantify

 

Scenario # 1

Yield increase of 70 %

and

farm gate price of $ 0.64 per pound

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To be conservative, assume a yield increase of only 70 %

the new yield would be 974 pounds

974 pounds X $ 0.64 / # = $ 623 per acre

The incremental revenue per acre:  $ 256

( $ 623 - $ 367 = $ 256  )

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divide $ 267 into $ 2,000 = 7.5 year break even

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Scenario # 2

Yield increase of 70 %

and

farm gate price of $ 0.81 per pound

( for illustration, say $ 0.17 per pound premium for improved quality )

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the new yield would be 974 pounds

974 pounds X $ 0.81 / # = $ 789 per acre

The incremental revenue per acre:  $ 607

( $ 789 - $ 367 = $ 422  )

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divide $ 422 into $ 2,000 = 4.7 year break even

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Scenario # 3

Yield increase of 80 %

and

farm gate price of $ 0.84 per pound

( $ 0.20 per pound premium for improved quality and 80 % yield improvement )

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the new yield would be 1,856 pounds

1,856 pounds X $ 0.84 / # = $  1,559 per acre

The incremental revenue per acre:  $ 1,192

( $ 1,559 - $ 367 = $ 422  )

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divide $ 1,192 into $ 2,000 = 1.67 year break even

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To reiterate, these are hypothetical examples with substitutions for example only.

Actual crop and number of yields per season are also variables.

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