DEFICIT IRRIGATION EFFECTS ON SOIL NUTRIENT DYNAMICS AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.)
Keywords:
Deficit irrigation, Maize yield, Crop evapotranspiration (ETc), Soil chemical properties, Water use efficiency, Irrigation regimesAbstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm/Workshop of the Department of Agricultural and Bioresources Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, to evaluate the effects of deficit irrigation on soil chemical properties, yield, and yield components of maize. The study was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications and six irrigation regimes based on crop evapotranspiration (ETc), namely 100% ETc (full irrigation), 80% ETc, 60% ETc, 50% ETc, 40% ETc, and 30% ETc. Measured parameters included maize yield, 1000-grain weight, cob weight, soil electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and soil pH. Maize yield ranged from 1,420 to 2,580 kg/ha, while 1000-grain weight varied between 162 and 342 g. Cob weight ranged from 352 to 398 g. Soil EC varied between 50.8 and 55.6 µS/cm, nitrogen ranged from 1.08 to 1.86 g/kg, phosphorus ranged from 3.10 to 7.72 mg/kg, potassium ranged from 6.5 to 9.2 ppm, and soil pH ranged from 6.08 to 7.02. Analysis of variance showed significant (p < 0.05) effects of irrigation treatments on yield and most soil chemical properties. Moderate deficit irrigation improved water use efficiency and maintained soil fertility within optimal ranges, moderate deficit irrigation is a viable and sustainable strategy for maize production in Awka, as it reduces water use while maintaining high yield and improving nutrient retention.
References
Badequin D. and Molle B. (2003). Is standardization a solution to improve the sustainability of irrigated agriculture? French National Committee of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, France.
Brady N. C., Weil, R. R. (2016). The Nature and Properties of Soils (15th ed.). Pearson.
El-Garawany M.M., and Albaloushi N.S. (2015). Deficit irrigation effects on soil chemistry properties, yield and yield components and fruit firmness of cucumber under arid condition of Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia. Met., Env., and Arid Land Agric. Sci., 26(1) 57-68.
Geerts S., Raes, D. (2009). Deficit irrigation as an on-farm strategy to maximize crop water productivity. Agricultural Water Management, 96, 1275–1284.
Nwachukwu C.P., Orakwe L.C., and Okoye N.M. (2019). Development and Evaluation of a drip irrigation system in Southeastern Nigeria. Journal of Engineering Research and Reports, 8(4): 1-9
Odoh BI, Egboka BCE, and Aghamelu BI (2012). the states of soil at the permanent site of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, South Eastern Nigeria. Canadian Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, 6(1) 1837-1845.
Phocaides A. (2007). Handbook on pressurized irrigation techniques. Natural resources management and environment department. Rome, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2nd Ed.
USDA (1984) Engineering field handbook on irrigation. USDA, USA. 1-8.
3.png)
1.png)
1.png)
