Effects N Management on Maize Grain Yield and its Component under Deficit Irrigation

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Ferdowsi Univercity of Mashhad

Abstract

Introduction
Poor management of irrigation and nitrogen are major factors in reducing yield. Although 94 percent of total water extractable and 64 percent of water used in agriculture, only 21 percent of the cultivated land is irrigated. In such circumstances irrigation to increase production per unit of water and efficient use of scarce water resources will be necessary and inevitable. Nitrogen is a limiting factor in crop production along with water in arid and semiarid regions. Many research have shown that the management of nitrogen during the growing season is essential. The need to establish the proportion of nitrogen and soil moisture availability is essential. In situations where sufficient water is not available, favorable conditions of work and not wasting resources, particularly water and nitrogen use efficiency leads and water and reduces the nitrogen use efficiency. The aim of this study, was to use chlorophyll meter for determination the timing and amount of nitrogen fertilizer plant in order to optimize the use of nitrogen under deficit irrigation.

Materials and Methods
An experiment was conducted as split split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2013 cropping season. Irrigation treatments were arranged in main plot with two levels including: 70 and 100 percent water supply, Nitrogen Index in sub plots by two levels including: 90 and 95 percent and sub-sub factor in both the 50 and 100 kg of nitrogen per hectare. Density of 66,600 plants per hectare was considered. In each block a control plot was considered that the amount of nitrogen that was always at an optimal level, so that the total amount of nitrogen, 25 percent more than the amount recommended by soil test (360 kg per hectare).The control plot was used for the comparison with other treatments SPAD device. According to the nitrogen index was determined with using of 1 equation (Arshadi and Khazaei, 2008):

Analysis of variance was performed using SAS computer software packages. The main effects and interactions were tested using the Duncan's multiple range test at 5% level.

Results and Discussion
The results showed that the highest leaf area index number of kernels per ear (435), biomass (814 g.m-2) and economic yield (397 g.m-2) obtained for full irrigation and nitrogen index of 95%. The interaction between irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer on leaf area index, grain weight per ear, biomass and harvest index was significant. Although 95% of nitrogen index and 100 kg of nitrogen per hectare compared to 90 percent of nitrogen index and 50 kg of nitrogen per hectare, 11% leaf area index, 41% number of grain per ear and 18% biomass increased but it was not significant. Although the highest leaf area index, grain weight per ear, biomass and economic yield has been in treatment of 100 percent irrigation, 95 percent nitrogen index and nitrogen fertilizer 100 kg.ha-1 it was not significant. It seems that in full irrigation and defficit irrigation, 100 kg nitrogen per hectare and 95 percent nitrogen index has high effect on economic yield.

Conclusions
The results showed that the water requirement of 100 and 70%, 95% of nitrogen index and 100 kg of nitrogen per hectare compared to the, 90% nitrogen index and 50 kg of nitrogen per hectare increased leaf area index, grain weight, biomass. When the index is less than 95% nitrogen, it can be used to detect a lack of nitrogen in corn. In this experiment, rate of nitrogen and N timing showed significantly affect on qualitative and quantitative yield and some agronomic characteristics.

Keywords


1. Abedinpour, M., and Sarangi, A. 2013. Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effects on maize growth in semi arid environment. World Applied Sciences Journal 21 (11): 1687-1692.
2. Alizadeh, A. 2002. Water soil and plant Relashenship.edition one. Publications astonqhods. (in Persian).
3. Al-Kaisi, M. M., and Xinhua, Y. 2003. Effects of Nitrogen Rate, Irrigation rate, and plant population on corn yield and water use efficiency. Agronomy Journal 95: 1475-1482.
4. Arausa J., Gustavo, L., Slaferb, A., ConxitaRoyoc, M., and Dolores, S. 2008. Breeding for Yield Potential and StressAdaptation in Cereals, ISSN: 0735-2689, 380-390.
5. Argenta, G. P., Silva, R. F., and Sangoi, L. 2004. Leaf relative chlorophyll content as an indicator parameter to predict nitrogen fertilization in maiz. Giencia Rural. 34 (5).
6. Arshadi, M. J., and Khazaei, H. R. 2008. Effects of nitrogen top dress fertilizer application by using chlorophyll meter on yield and quality of potato (Agria cv.) in climate conditions of Mashhad. Journal of Water and Soil 22 (2): 49-63. (in Persian with English abstract).
7. Arunyanark, A., Jogloy, S., Vorasoot, N., Akassaeng, C., Kesmala, T., and Patanothi, A. 2009. Stability of Relationship between chlorophyll density and soil plant analysis development chlorophyll meter readings in peanut across different drought stress conditions. Assian Journal of Pant Sciences 8 (2): 102-110.
8. Dana, E., Martinez, J., and Guiamet, J. 2004. Distortion of the SPAD 502 chlorophyll meter readings by changes in irradiance and leaf water status Agronomie 24: 41-46.
9. Farre, I., and Faci, J. M. 2009. Deficit irrigation in maize for reducing agricultural water use in a Mediterranean environment. Agricultural Water Management 96: 383-389.
10. Huan, Y., Hua-Song, W., and Zhi-Jie, W. 2010. Evaluation of SPAD and dualex for In-Season corn nitrogen status estimation. Sciences Direct 36 (5): 840-847.
11. Ichie, T., Kitahashi, Y., Matsuki, S., Maruyama, Y., and Koike, T. 2002. The using of aportable non-destructive type nitrogen meter for leaves of woody plants in Field studies. Photosynthetia 40 (2): 289-292.
12. Kafi, M., Borzoee, A., Salehi, M., Kamandi, A., Masoumi, A., and Nabati, J. 2009. Physiology of Environmental Stresses in Plants. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad Publication. (in Persian).
13. Karancsi, L. G., and Marias, K. 2013. Effect of Nutrient Supply on Yield and Photosynthetic Parameters of Maize Hybrids. International Journal of Agricultural, Biosystems Science and Engineering 7 (11): 56-59.
14. Khayatnezhad, M., and Gholamin, R. 2011. The effect of drought stress on leaf chlorophyll content and ssstress resistance in maize cultivars (Zea mays). African Journal of Microbiology Research 6 (12): 2844-2848.
15. Khoshgoftarmanesh, A. H. 2006. Fertilizer Optimum Management. University of Esfahan Publication. (in Persian).
16. Mafakheri, A., Siosemardeh, A. B., Bahramnejad, P. C., Struik, Y., Sohrabi. 2010. Effect of drought stress on yield, proline and chlorophyll contents in three chickpea cultivars. AJCS 4 (8): 580-585.
17. Markwell, J. J. C., Osterman, J., and Mitchell, L. 1995. Calibration of the Minolta SPAD-502 leaf chlorophyll meter. Photosynthesis Research 46: 467-472.
18. Mjdam, M., and Madhaj, A. 2012. Effects N levels on WUE, yield and yield components in grain maize under water stress. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 10 (3): 546-554. (in Persian with English abstract).
19. Mohammadpour, M., Afrous, A., and Papizadeh Palangan, A. The Yield Functions of Maize toward the Deficit Irrigation in the Tropical Climate of Dezfoul. BEPLS 2 (2): 1-4.
20. Nemati, A. R., and Sharifi, R. S. 2012. Effects of rates and nitrogen application timing on yield, agronomic characterstics and nitrogen use efficiency in corn. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences 4 (9): 534-539.
21. Nissanka, S. P., Dixon, M. A., and Tollenaar, M. 1997. Canopy gas exchange response to moisture stress in old and new maize hybrid. Crop Sciences 37: 172-181.
22. Osborne, S. L., Schepers, J. S., Francis, D. D., and Schlemmer, M. R. 2002. Use of spectral radiance to inseason biomass and grain yield in nitrogen and water stressed corn. Crop Sciences 42: 165-171.
23. Pandey, R. K., Maranville, J. W., and Chetima, M. M. 2000. Deficit irrigation and nitrogen effects on maize in a Sahelian environment II. Shoot growth, nitrogen uptake and water extraction. Agricultural Water Management 46: 15-27.
24. Patel, J. B., Patel, V. J., and Patel, J. R. 2006. Influence of different methods of irrigation and nitrogen levels on crop growth rate and yield of maize (Zea mays L.). Indian Journal of Crop Science 1 (1-2): 175-177.
25. Qi Wang Fengrui, Li, Enhe, Z., Guan, L., Maureen, V. 2012. The effects of irrigation and nitrogen application rates on yield of spring wheat (longfu-920), and water use efficiency and nitrate nitrogen accumulation in soil. Australian Journal of Crop Science 6 (4): 662-672.
26. Ronald, J., Gehl, John P., Schmidt, L., Maddux, D., and Barney Gordon, W. 2005. Corn Yield Response to Nitrogen Rate and Timing in Sandy Irrigated Soils. Published in Agronomie Journal 97: 1230-1238.
27. Schlemmer, M. R., Francis, D. D., Shanahan, J. F., and Schepers, J. S. 2005. Remotely Measuring Chlorophyll Content in Corn Leaves with Differing Nitrogen Levels and Relative Water Content.
28. Shapiro, Ch. A., Francis, D. D., Ferguson, R. B., Hergert, G. W., Shaver, T. M., and Wortmann, Ch. S. 2013. Using a chlorophyll meter to improve N management institute of agricultrure and natural resources.
29. Siami R. 2009. Maize production technology. sepehr Publication. (in Persian).
30. Tadesse, T., Assefa, A., Liben, M., and Tadesse, Z. 2013. The effect of nitrogen fertilizer split application on the nitrogen use efficiency, grain yield and economic benefit of maize production. International Journal of Plant Agronomie Sciences 3 (5): 492-499.
31. Tollenaar, M., and Daynard, T. B. 1978. Effect of defoliation on kernel development in maize. Journal Plant Sciences 58: 207-212.
32. Uhart, S. A., and Andrade, F. H. 1995. Nitrogen deficiency in maize: II. Carbon-nitrogen interaction effects on kernelnumber and grain yield. Crop Science 35: 1384-1389.
33. Wang, D., Shannon, M. C. and Griere, C. M. 2001. Salinity reduces radiation absorption and Use Efficiency in Soybean field. Acarop Response 69: 267-277.
34. Wasaya, A., Tahir, M., Tanveer, A., and Yaseen, M. 2012. Response of maize to tillage and nitrogen management. The Journal of Animal & Plant Sciences 22 (2): 452-456.
CAPTCHA Image
  • Receive Date: 15 September 2014
  • Revise Date: 01 November 2015
  • Accept Date: 12 January 2016
  • First Publish Date: 21 March 2017