Grain yield and ear characteristics of corn as affected by irrigation regimes and nitrogen fertilization

Abstract EN

-This research dealt with the grain yield, its components and ear Characters of hybrid corn cultivar (AGA215) under the influence of three different irrigation treatments and four nitrogen rates (urea).

The considered grain yield characters included grain yield kg/ha, weight of 1000 grains, grain protein content, shelling percentage and harvest index, while the ear characters were ear length, diameter, and volume, number of rows per ear, number of grains per ear, number of grains per row and weight of grains and cob per ear.

The field experiments were conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of King Abdulaziz University at Hada Al-Sham area during two successive sowing dates (Autumn 1994 and Spring 1995).

A split-plot design was used where three irrigation treatments were the main treatments and the sub treatments were 4 N-fertilizer levels.

The depletion ratio method was followed to estimate the amount of irrigation water and the corresponding irrigation frequencies for each irrigation treatment.

Three depletion ratios (50%, 25% and 10%) were applied, and designated as IR1, IR2, IR3 respectively.

As regards nitrogen (urea) treatments, four rates were used (0, 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha) and denoted as N0, N1, N2 and N3, respectively.

The total applied irrigation water was the same for the three irrigation treatments and was equal to 9015 m3/ha for autumn sowing date, and 8210 m3/ha for spring sowing date, where only the irrigation frequency and application water for each irrigation were the varying parameters in the treatment.

The results showed that the first sowing date (autumn) gave higher grain yield number of grains per row, weight of grains per ear, and weight of cob per ear, one thousand grain weight, protein content of grain, shelling percentage and harvest index, than the second sowing date (spring).

The irrigation treatments significantly affected grain yield variables, where irrigation treatment No.

IR3 (10 %) had higher values for grain yield, and ear length.

Also, the nitrogen treatments significantly affected some grain yield variables; where treatment No.

N3 (200 kgN / ha) gave higher values of grain yield, ear length and volume, number of grains per ear, and weight of grains per ear.

However, the N4 treatment (300 kgN / ha) gave higher values of number of grains / row, weight of cob and protein content of grain.