Deficit Irrigation Scheduling in Corn and Economic Feasibility Associated with it

Inaya Sh. Kanshow*(1) Nidal Jhonny(2) Rula Ziada(3) Kowthar Hamed(4) and Hussien ALAli(5)

(1). Al Qunaietra Agricultural Research Center, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR), Al Qunaietra, Syria.                                                       (2). Natural Resources Administration, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.                                 (3). Socioeconomic Administration, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.                                       (4). Crops Administration, GCSAR, Damascus, Syria.                                                      (5). Soil Lab, Al Qunaietra Agricultural Research Center, (GCSAR), Al Qunaietra, Syria.(*Corresponding author: Dr. Inaya Kanshow. E-Mail: inayakan@gmail.com).

Received: 10/12/ 2015                           Accepted: 15/02/ 2016

Abstract

This research was conducted, at the Agricultural Research Center of Al Qunaeitra, General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR)/Syria, during two growing seasons (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) using hybrid corn i.e. Basil2, in order to determine the effect of deficit irrigation on grain yield and productivity of irrigation water. Seven levels of deficit irrigation were applied during growth stages, in addition to full irrigation as control (100% of field capacity). A complete randomized block design (RCBD) was applied, with three replicates. Results showed that the control, gave the highest significant value of grain yield (12460) kg/ha, and medium significant value of irrigation water use efficiency (3.97) kg/m. Increasing water stress caused a significant reduction in grain yield, reached (11360) kg/ha as the highest significant value if one irrigation is missed (466) m 3/ha-1 in the grain filling stage, saving 15% of irrigation water, and the highest significant value of irrigation water use efficiency reached (4.23) kg/m -3, compared to the control, while the lowest significant value of grain yield reached (4713) kg//ha when the plants were exposed to water stress in vegetative, flowering and grain filling stages, saving 48% of irrigation water, associated with the lowest significant value of irrigation water use efficiency, which achieved (2.89) kg/m3.

Key words: Corn, Deficit irrigation, Grain yields, Irrigation water use efficiency.

Full paper in Arabic: Deficit Irrigation Scheduling in Corn and Economic Feasibility Associated with it