Impact of Irrigation Scheduling and Nitrogen Management Through Drip Irrigation System on Nutrient Content and Uptake of Rabi Maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

The state of the soil's nutrients can be significantly impacted by improper irrigation and nitrogen application, which may accelerate nutrient losses and cause soil erosion and ground water pollution. A field experiment was conducted during consecutive two rabi seasons of the years 2021 and 2022 at Regional Research Station, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, Gujarat, India to study the “Impact of irrigation scheduling and nitrogen management through drip irrigation system on nutrient content and uptake of rabi maize (Zea mays L.)”. The soil of the experimental field was loamy sand in texture, with low organic carbon and available nitrogen, medium available phosphorus and high potassium with soil pH 8.21. The experiment was carried out in split plot design with four levels of irrigation scheduling based on Alternate Day Pan Evaporation Fraction (ADPEF) were considered in main plot viz., I1 : Irrigation scheduling at 0.8 ADPEF, I2 : Irrigation scheduling at 1.0 ADPEF, I3 : Irrigation scheduling at 1.2 ADPEF and I4 : Control (Flood irrigation) and three nitrogen management treatments viz. N1 : 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer, N2 : 75% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + Bio NPK consortium, N3 : 50% RDN through inorganic fertilizer + Bio NPK consortium + 5 t/ha FYM were assigned in sub plots, comprised of 12 treatment combinations. Result of the experiment showed that irrigation scheduling at 1.2 ADPEF (I3) recorded significantly higher N content in grain and stover and it was remained at par with irrigation scheduling at 1.0 ADPEF (I2) during 2021, 2022 and pooled analysis. P and K content in grain and stover was found non-significant due to various irrigation scheduling treatments during individual years and on pooled basis. Irrigation scheduling at 1.2 ADPEF (I3) recorded significantly higher N, P uptake by grain and stover and K uptake by grain during 2021, 2022 and on pooled basis. K uptake by stover found significantly higher under irrigation scheduling at 1.2 ADPEF (I3) during 2021-22 and pooled basis. While K, uptake by stover found non-significant. Nitrogen management with 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer recorded significantly the highest N content in grain and stover and pooled analysis. While, P and K content grain and stover found non- and pooled analysis. Application of 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer found significantly higher N, P and K uptake by grain and stover and pooled basis. Interaction effect of irrigation scheduling and nitrogen management treatments was found significantly higher N uptake by grain and K uptake by stover (pooled basis) under irrigation scheduling at 1.2 ADPEF with 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizer (I3N1).