The retention of soil productivity is a genuine facet of sustainable agriculture and an essential issue for producers and land owners. The objective of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of the optimal decision rules for nitrogen fertilizer application and the impact on net returns for irrigated cotton production in the High Plains of Texas when provisions are included requiring maintenance of soil productivity. Results indicate that as the desired level of soil productivity maintenance increased, additional nitrogen applications were required, net present value of returns were reduced, and the annual payment required to offset these economic losses increased across a series of nine production scenarios.