EFFECT OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION METHODS ON WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND YIELD OF MAIZE CROP
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Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of three different irrigation methods including ridge planting (T1), planting under furrow irrigation (T2) and line planting under basin irrigation (T3) on soil physical properties, water use efficiency, plant growth parameters and yield of maize crop. The water requirement for maize crop was determined using CROPWAT (8.0) Model. Statistical analysis showed that the average values of the dry bulk density, soil porosity, plant height, crop yield and water use efficiency were significant (P< 0.05), while other parameters such as stem girth, number of leaves per plant, number of cobs per plant and 1000-grain weight were non-significant (P> 0.05) under all treatments. The results showed that the total volume of water applied to crop under T1 was lower (3632), compared to T2 (3936) and T3 (5904). Average plant height, number of leaves per plant and number of cobs per plant were higher under T1 compared to T2 and T3. However, the stem girth of plant was higher under T3, followed by T1 and T2. T1 produced more 1000-grains weight and yield of crop, followed by T2 and T3. Similarly, the average water use efficiency was higher under T1 compared to T2 and T3. Hence, ridge planting under furrow irrigation method could be put in practice to save water and to achieve higher water use efficiency in water scarce areas, while in water stress areas, planting under furrow irrigation may be employed.
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