Rationalize maize irrigation water using modern irrigation systems and plastic mulching in clayey soils of fayoum

Abstract EN

Using the modern irrigation systems lead to water lost decrease, controllingthe quantity and increase crop productivity.

The current study aims to evaluate thesurface, improved surface and drip irrigation systems to rationalize maize irrigationwater in soils.

Field experiments were conducted in Sanores District, FayoumGovernorate.

The treatments include three irrigation systems (surface, improvedsurface and drip), three deficit irrigation treatments (100% , 80% and 60% of ETc)and three soil plastic mulching treatments (without, white plastic and black plastic).

All treatments were combined in the complete randomized blocks design (spilt –spiltplot) with three replicates.

Maize (Zea mays L, variety 321) was planted during twosummer seasons (2017 and 2018).

Class A Pan was used for estimating the dailyETo values to determine the intervals between irrigation treatments.

Disturbed andundisturbed soil samples were collected from the experimental field beforeconducting such treatments.

Measurements of maize growth parameters and yieldwere carried.

Some crop water relations of maize were determined.

Statisticalanalysis for the obtained data was performed.

Results indicated that the highest values of plant height, cobs No.

per plant, cob weight, number of rows per cob, weight of 100 grains and grains yield of maizewere coincided with improved surface irrigation system, irrigation treatment (80% of ETc) and black plastic mulching.

Also, the highest value of forage weight ofmaize was recorded with surface irrigation system, irrigation treatment (100% ofETc) and soil black plastic mulching.

The mean values of the water consumptive useof maize plants were significantly decreased by 31.26 and 12.10% under drip < br />irrigation compared with surface and improved surface irrigation systems.

The meanvalues of water productivity of maize crop significantly increased by 27.13 and3.88% under drip irrigation compared with surface and improved surface irrigationsystems, respectively.

It could be concluded that improved surface irrigation system, irrigation treatment (80% of ETc) and black plastic mulching saved about 20% ofthe applied irrigation water (about 965 m3ha-1), as well as, the highest grains yieldof maize plants in clayey soils under Fayoum conditions.