Responses of Various Corn Cultivars under Supplementary Irrigation Management

Abstract

This project was executed in a split-plot experiment using the randomized complete block design with four replications in the research field at the Gilan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center to evaluate the effects of various irrigation regimes on three single cross hybrids in corn. The major factor was the irrigation treatment (one irrigation before flowering, one irrigation at flowering and one at seed filling stages, no irrigation or rainfed farming), and the minor factor the cultivars ( the single cross hybrids 704, 260, and 400). The three irrigation regimes and the three cultivars had significantly different effects on seed yield at the 5% and 1% probability levels, respectively. Comparing the means of irrigation regimes showed the maximum yield (6580 kg/ha) belonged to the treatment of irrigation at flowering and at seed filling stages and the minimum (4888 kg/ha) to the treatment of irrigation before flowering. Irrigation at flowering and seed filling stages increased yield and yield components, while the hybrid SC704 was the suitable cultivar under water stress conditions.