Response of maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield to irrigation regimes and different tillage systems in arid area of Sudan

Abstract

A study was carried out at Dongola town- Agjah district (Sudan) for two consecutive summer seasons (2005/06 and 2006/07) to investigate the response of maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield to irrigation regimes; irrigation water amounts and irrigation intervals, under different tillage practices. Irrigation water amounts used were; 100%, 75%, and 50% FAO Penman- Monteith ETc. The different tillage practices applied were; disc ploughing (20 cm depth) followed by disc harrowing and levelling, chisel ploughing (30 cm depth) followed by disc harrowing and levelling, and no tillage. The irrigation intervals were; 10, 15, and 20 days. The application of irrigation treatments was started at the third irrigation. There were no significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) due to irrigation water amounts, tillage practices, and irrigation intervals treatments combinations on plant height; at 45, 60, and 75 days after sowing, leaf area index at 75 days after sowing, and plant population for both seasons. Also, there were no significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) on yield and yield parameters; cob length, number of rows/cob, number of seeds/cob, 100-seed weight, yield/unit area, stover/unit area, harvest index, and field water use efficiency in both seasons for the treatments interactions. The treatments interactions gave significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) on soil moisture content in one of the two seasons at soil depths of 0-25, 50-75, and 75-100 cm. It was observed that disc ploughing treatment with all combinations of irrigation water amounts and irrigation intervals gave the highest values in both seasons for plant height, leaf area index, and soil moisture content. It was observed that the highest values of field water use efficiency for both seasons were obtained under treatment interactions of disc ploughing treatment, irrigation water amount of 50% ETc, and 10 days irrigation interval.