Effect of PRD irrigation method and potassium fertilizer application on corn yield and water use efficiency

F. Amiri, J. Pourreza, A. Madani, A. Bahrani

Abstract: Innovations for saving water in irrigated agriculture and thereby improving water use efficiency are of paramount importance in water-scarce regions. Therefore, to see how restricted irrigation systems and different potassium fertilizer affect water use efficiency and yield of corn, an experiment was conducted in an arid area in Khuzestan, Iran in 2011. A split-plot experimental design was used, based on a complete randomized block design with three replications. The main plots consisted of three irrigation methods: FI (full irrigation), variable and fixed partial root zoon drying (PRD-V and PRD-F). Each subplot received three rates of K fertilizer application: 0, 150 or 300 kg ha-1. The results showed that the plots receiving the full irrigation resulted in significantly higher grain yields, 1000-kernel weight and grain number per cob than both PRD treatments. However, the highest WUE and IWUE were obtained in PRD-V and 300 kg K ha-1 and the lowest one was found in the FI treatment and 0 kg K ha-1. Potassium application increased RWC and grain protein percent in PRD-V and PRD-V than FI treatment. Full irrigation and PRD-F treatments produced the lowest and the highest ABA concentration at any potassium levels.

Keywords: corn; grain yield; potassium; PRD irrigation; water use efficiency

Date published: 2019-07-23