Response of Maize (Zea mays L.) Yield under Drip and Furrow Irrigation at Different Irrigation Levels at werer, Middle awash, Ethiopia

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted at Werer Agricultural Research center to evaluate the effects of drip and furrow irrigation under different irrigation levels on maize yield and water use efficiency. The experiment was laid out in split plot design where drip and furrow irrigations assigned as main plot and irrigation levels (100, 85, 70 and 55% of ETc) assigned in the sub plot arrangement with three blocks. The highest seasonal water requirement of maize was 701.7 mm at 100% ETc under conventional furrow irrigation which is considered as control while the lowest was 192.9 mm at 55% ETc under alternative furrow irrigation. The analysis of variance revealed that there was significant (p<0.05) difference in yield among treatments and the interaction effect of irrigation system and irrigation levels show highly significant (p<0.01) difference among treatments. The highest yield (16.7t/ha) was obtained from drip irrigation with 100% of ETc application and while the lowest (4.04 t/ha) was obtained from plots treated with alternative furrow irrigation 55% ETc treatment.