Abstract
ABSTRACT Reduction of leaf area significantly affects maize productivity, due to its low plasticity. Thus, appropriate water application can minimize this problem, considering that under favorable water conditions the plant would express its maximum production potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of irrigation on the productive performance of sweet corn submitted to different defoliation levels at the beginning of crop cycle. The experimental design was a randomized block design, arranged in split plot scheme; plots consisting of four water depths [50, 75, 100 and 125% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc)] and the subplots consisted of three defoliation levels [0% (control); 35% (removal of four fully expanded leaves), 100% (total removal of leaves, shoot section)], with three replicates. The use of irrigation has a positive influence on recovery of damages caused by defoliation at the initial development stages of sweet corn, and the success of irrigation management, as a strategy to mitigate damages caused by defoliation, depends on the level of the lost leaf area and the amount of water used.
Highlights
A redução da área foliar afeta drasticamente a produtividade do milho, em função da sua baixa plasticidade
The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of irrigation on the productive performance of sweet corn submitted to different defoliation levels at beginning of the crop cycle
Climate of the region is humid tropical (Peel et al, 2007), maximum and minimum temperatures 33.6 and 7.1°C, respectively; maximum and minimum relative humidity is 95 and 24% and rainfall of 548.65 mm and crop evapotranspiration around 3.71 mm day-1 during the experiment. These data were collected at meteorological station of the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) installed at a distance of 3.84 km and rainfall data were collected in the experimental area because of its variability
Summary
A redução da área foliar afeta drasticamente a produtividade do milho, em função da sua baixa plasticidade. O emprego de irrigação apresenta influência positiva na recuperação de danos ocasionados por desfolha em estágios iniciais de desenvolvimento do milho doce, sendo que, o sucesso no manejo da irrigação como estratégia para atenuar os prejuízos ocasionados pela desfolha, depende do nível da área foliar perdida e da lâmina de água empregada. In relation to leaf structure, damages caused may reflect negatively in the growth of the whole plant, since leaves respond to the main source of photoassimilates, which are the most important photosynthesizing organs of maize (Karam et al, 2010). This effect is potentiated when it occurs at more advanced stages of crop cycle (Fancelli & Dourado Neto, 2004). According to Magalhães & Durães (2006), at this stage, growth point, which is below the soil surface, is quite affected by temperature but Hortic. bras., Brasília, v.36, n.3, July - September 2018 by water availability, considering that excess moisture affects plant development, and can even cause plant death
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