Determination of Optimal Irrigation Scheduling for Maize (Zea Mays) at Assosa District, Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Knowing the appropriate time of irrigation and the amount of water applied to the crop is essential to increase yield and water productivity. There was no research activity which was conducted in Assosa district regarding to optimal irrigation scheduling of maize before this study. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the response of maize to irrigation regime( when and how much) and determination of water productivity. Field experiments were conducted in two consecutive years. The experiment had five treatments which were, Soil moisture depletion levels (SMD1=60% of ASMDL, SMD2=80% of ASMDL, SMD3=100% of ASMDL,SDL4= 120% of ASMDL and SMD5= 140% of ASMDL) with RCBD experimental design. Reference evapotranspiration, crop water and net irrigation requirements were calculated. The results were indicated that yield and water productivity were significance at SMD3 or 100% available soil moisture depletion level of maize variety of BH-540. Hence applying irrigation water when the available soil moisture content reaches at critical depletion and 444.2mm total net depth of water was contributed. Keywords : Water requirement, Irrigation scheduling, Water productivity, Maize, Assosa DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-3-02 Publication date: February 28 th 2021