Effects of water dificit stress and different irrigation methods on yield and yield components in two hybrids of Corn (Zea mays L.)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of drought stress and three irrigation methods on yield and yield components in two hybrid varieties of Corn named: SC704 and SC700. The experiments were laid out in split – split plot using randomized complete block design with three replicates was used at Agricultural Research Station of Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch (35°45´ N latitude, 51° 56´ E longitude, 1313m altitude) in 2010. Main plots were allocated to drought treatments that were applied at 40%, 60% and 75% levels of soil moisture depletion, sub – plots including three levels of irrigation methods (All furrows irrigation, furrows alternately irrigation and double row culture) and sub – sub plots considered two hybrid varieties. The Results showed that, drought stress had significant effect on yield and yield components, whereas had reduced for grain yield, row number in cob, grain number in cob row, grain number in cob, 1000 grain weight, grain length, cob length and… in different level of stress conditions. Cultivars responses to the different level of stress was different, while cultivars have the highest yield in stress level is shown by SC700 (10033 kg/ha) comparing to SC704 (8166.7 kg/ha) in 40% soil moisture depletion. Also there was significant for grain yield, grain length, height of first cob and non inoculated part of cob.