Effect of irrigation on physicochemical properties and bioethanol yield of drought tolerant and conventional corn

Abstract

As the availability of water decreases, deficit irrigation is an essential approach for optimizing water use efficiency. Limited or deficit irrigation may significantly affect crop yields, grain quality, and end uses. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of irrigation capacity on physiochemical properties, bioconversion efficiency, and bioethanol yield of drought tolerant (DT) and conventional corn. Both DT and conventional corn were planted at Southwest Research-Extension Center near Garden City, Kansas with five different irrigation levels (1 inch every 4, 6, 8,10, or 12 days) and dryland in 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. It was found that test weight of corn increased as irrigation capacity increased. Starch and protein contents of corn ranged from 67.41 to 72.67 and 7.63 to 9.75%, respectively. Starch pasting temperature and peak time of pasting decreased as irrigation level increased. Irrigation capacity had a positive impact on bioethanol yield, whereas the corn hybrid and year did not significantly affect bioethanol yield resulting from above normal rainfall received during the growing seasons.