Drip irrigation and nitrogen fertilization alter phenological development and yield of spring maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) under semi-arid conditions

Abstract

Maize response to deficit water and nitrogen for assessing phenological development and yield was studied under semi-arid conditions. Experiment consisting three drip irrigation levels, replenish 60 (DI60), 80 (DI80) and 100 percent (DI100) of cumulative pan evaporation, and four nitrogen doses 50 (RN50), 75 (RN75), 100 (RN100) and 125 (RN125) per cent of recommended nitrogen. A Furrow irrigated treatment was kept as control/check. Significant earliness in visibility of collar of 8th leaf, tasseling, silking and significant delay in dough stage and physiological maturity was recorded under well water treatment DI100 as compared to DI60. Days to collar of 8th leaf, tasseling and silking had significant negative correlation, and duration of yield formation phase and days to physiological maturity had significant positive correlation with grain yield. Higher DM production, longer yield formation phase and late physiological maturity led to significantly higher grain yield under DI100. In case of nitrogen levels, phonological characteristics like collar of 8th leaf, tasseling and silking were significantly delayed, and dough stage and physiological maturity were advanced under nitrogen deficit treatment RN50 as compared to RN100 and RN125. Significantly higher dry matter production and longer yield formation phase observed led to significant higher SCY under RN100 and RN125 as compared to RN50. Yield formation phase was significantly longer under drip irrigated crop as compared to control during 2nd year of study. Crop phenological development significantly affected by drip irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels, and there was significant correlation between phenological stages development and grain yield.