Management of Water-Nitrogen units under Different Deficit Irrigation Strategies for Zea maize Crop

Abstract

Drip irrigation method can be more efficient than other types of irrigation methods, such as surface flood irrigation or sprinkler irrigation. Field experiments were carried out at the experimental farm, Faculty of Agri., Tanta Univ., Egypt, during summer seasons of 2018 and 2019 due to the limited water, as it is an important factor for agriculture expansion with the aim of providing water and fertilizer and improving the water distribution uniformity. Maize crop (Triple Hybrid 321). The factors of study were three laterals’ positions; these positions were lateral line directly beside crop row (FI); lateral line was placed at 15 cm from crop row (PRD1) and alternate partial root zone drying at 15cm from crop row (APRD2). Three irrigation water regimes noted: (100, 75 and 50% of the ETc). Three rates of nitrogen fertilization were used (100% ”600kg”, 50%”300kg” and 0%” control” of kg N ha-1). The results indicated that the maximum yield of maize crop was obtained from the maximum nitrogen level (100%) and when the lateral placement was directly next to the crop row. The minimum maize crop yield was achieved using nitrogen fertilization (0%) and lateral positioning 15 cm away from the plant line. The chlorophyll content is affected by the nitrogen fertilization level and lateral positions. PRD2 and PRD1 these lateral positions increase the chlorophyll content compared to FI as, the highest values were 41.7 and 40.7 were recorded at PRD2+100%N and PRD1+50%N respectively. The distribution uniformity value was high at 200kPa and the distribution uniformity values were low at 50 and100kPa respectively.