Effect of Cut-Off Irrigation levels on Production of Teosinte Forage Crop in Clay Soil

Abstract

The present study was carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station (clay soils) middle north of Nile Delta area during summer seasons 2021 and 2022 in randomized complete block design with three replications. The objective of this research was to find out the response of yield, water saving and some water functions for teosinte forage crop to cut-off surface irrigation owing to produce " more per less”. Three irrigation levels were executed; 100% i.e., full irrigation, 90% cut-off irrigation and 80% cut-off irrigation. The mean performances of plant height, fresh and dry forage yields in the two seasons and combined are significantly affected by irrigation levels applied, whereas normal or control treatment with100% irrigation i.e., no cut-off (Trt. A) has the tallest of plant height. On the other hand, the low irrigation level with 80% cut-off (Trt. C) has the shortest plants at the three cuts. Also, traits reduced with the decrease of irrigation water level at the three cuts. Both fresh and dry forage yields are severely decreased when plants irrigated by 80% cut-off. Decreasing the irrigation water level than the commonly controlled of 100% without cut-off (Trt.A) markedly reduced all studied growth characters at the three cuts. The inhibiting effect of the water deficit stress on the studied parameters notably appeared more pronounced under the 80% cut-off than that of 90% .The obtained results may refer to that decreasing the irrigation water lowered the soil moisture content which restricted the mobility of nutrients to plant that would reduce the efficiency of physiological and metabolic processes needed for plant growth. Regarding water relations, irrigation with 90% cut-off resulted in several advantages; almost same yield as obtained under full irrigation, 10% water saving as well as the highest values of crop-water functions of water productivity (WP) and productivity of irrigation water (PIW). The mean values of fresh forage yield of 100% irrigation levels recorded 610 and 685 Kg/strip with compared to 585 and 655kg/strip for 90 %irrigation treatment at first and second cuts, respectively in the first season.