Effect of different water stress on the yield and yield components of second crop corn in semiarid climate

Abstract

The response of second crop corn (Zea mays L.) to 10 irrigation treatments in a semiarid climate was investigated in the field during the 2003 and 2004 growing season. Water stress was created at different development stages: early vegetative, vegetative, before tasseling, after tasseling, milk stage and after milk in order to determine the effect of irrigation treatments on vegetative growth, grain yield and yield components of corn. The effect of water stress at any stage of development on leaf area index and dry matter accumulation were studied. A rainfed (non-irrigated) treatment and 9 deficit irrigation treatments were applied to Pioneer 3394 corn hybrid on a loam soil with 3 replications. Water stress significantly affected the corn grain yield. The grain yield increased with irrigation water amount, and the highest average grain yield (11,160 kg ha -1 ) was obtained from the well/full irrigated treatment (K 1 ). Seasonal evapotranspiration increased with increased amounts of irrigation water applied. The highest seasonal ET (average of 650 mm) was determined at the (K 1 ) treatment. Water stress occurring during vegetative and tasseling stages reduced leaf area index (LAI). Total dry matter (DM) accumulation was accelerated after each irrigation application. Yield response factor (k y ) value of 1.02 was determined based on averages of two years. Significant linear relations were found for grain yield and seasonal evapotranspiration (ET). It is concluded that well irrigated treatment (K1) could be used for the semiarid climatic conditions under no water shortage. In the case of more restricted irrigation, the limitation of irrigation water at the vegetative and tasseling stages should be avoided to maintain satisfactory growth.