Evaluation of corn forage yield and yield components in management of alternate every other furrow irrigation

In the present study، different deficit irrigation management scenarios as alternate furrow irrigations considering sensitive growths stages of corn were assessed in terms of their effects on yield and yield components. This research was performed as a randomized full block design with six treatments and three replications. The treatments were full furrow irrigation in the whole growing season (control)، alternate furrow irrigation in the whole growing season، full irrigation at establishment stage and alternate irrigation in the other stages، full irrigation at flowering stage and alternate irrigation in the other stages، full irrigation at establishment and flowering stage and alternate irrigation in the other stages، full irrigation at flowering and ripening stages and alternate irrigation in the other stages. Overall، the effect of deficit irrigation on yield and yield components was statistically (p<0. 01)، significant. Full irrigation in the whole growing season had the highest wet forage yield (67022 kg/ha) and alternate furrow irrigation in the whole growing season، had the lowest wet forage yield (50064 kg/ha). The best treatment was the full irrigation at flowering stage and alternate irrigation in the other stages. With this treatment، the reduction in wet and dry forage yields، leaves wet and dry weights and stem wet and dry weights in comparison with control was about 8 to 14 %. This is quiet acceptable as it saves 39% irrigation water. The highest irrigation water use efficiency (1. 8 kg/m3) was achieved by full irrigation at flowering stage and alternate irrigation in the other stages.