influence of different levels of water deficit and nitrogen fertilization on maize productivity, nitrogen uptake and soil properties

Abstract EN

-Two field experiments were conducted at Hada Al-Sham Experimental Station of King Abdulaziz University, to study the effect of three different rates of irrigation, based on depletion ratios of 50 %, 25 %, 10 % (IR1, IR2, IR3) and four different rates of nitrogen fertilization (urea), zero, 100, 200, 300 kg/ha (N0 , N1, N2, N3) during two successive seasons (autumn 1994 and spring 1995) on total dry matter yield and its components (ear and straw), and nitrogen uptake of hybrid maize plant (AGA 215 cultivar).

The purpose was also to detect changes in the chemical properties of the soil as influenced by these parameters.

The irrigation scheduling processes were designed by applying water of 90.15 cm/autumn (9015 m3 / ha / autumn season) and 82.1 cm / spring (8210 m3/ha/spring season), respectively, where the irrigation frequency was changed.

There was a highly significant difference between seasons as regard dry matter production, with the first season (autumn) gave higher weight of straw, ear, total yield of dry matter, and nitrogen uptake than the second season (spring).

Irrigation treatments significantly affected yield traits.

The irrigation treatment IR3 had higher values for dry weight of ears, and total yield of dry matter.

Also, nitrogen treatments significantly affected some plant yield variables ; where treatment number N3 gave higher values of weight of straw, total yield of dry matter and nitrogen uptake.

The season affected significantly the potassium and organic matter content in soil.

Irrigation levels affected significantly only the soil potassium (K).

Meanwhile the applied nitrogen rates affected significantly soil pH , nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) soil content.

The reported results can be used as a guideline for the investigators in the field of maize irrigation and similar field crops.