Two irrigation events can achieve relatively high, stable corn yield and water productivity in aeolian sandy soil of northeast China

Abstract

To achieve relatively high, stable corn (Zea mays L.) yield and water productivity (WPc) in aeolian sandy soil in the corn belt of northeast China (CBNC), a 4-year field experiment was conducted from 2017 to 2020 to evaluate the effects of irrigation on yield and WPc. The field experiment included four treatments: no irrigation (NI), single irrigation (SI), two irrigation events (TI), and full irrigation (FI) at the Lishu Experimental Station, Jilin Province, China. The results showed that, the TI and FI treatments improved the relative soil water content (RSWC) of the corn root zone and the aboveground biomass relative to the NI and SI treatments. The corn yield in the SI, TI, and FI treatments was 16–187%, 19–438%, and 17–409% greater than that of the NI treatment, respectively. The coefficient of variation of yield from 2017 to 2020 in the NI, SI, TI, and FI treatments were 47%, 23%, 4%, and 2%, respectively. The TI and FI treatments increased evapotranspiration relative to the NI and SI treatments. The TI and FI treatments increased the WPc by 10–396% and 24–324% compared with the NI treatment. No difference in WPc was observed between the TI and FI treatments. The irrigation water productivity (WPI) of the TI treatment was 35% and 46% higher than that of the FI treatment in 2017 and 2020, respectively, while no difference was observed in 2018 and 2019. Therefore, the TI treatment is recommended to improve the yield and WPc of corn in the aeolian sandy soil of the CBNC.