The effect of planting methods on maize growth and yield at different irrigation regimes

Maize production, which is ranked after wheat and barely in Fars province, Iran, needs a considerable amount of irrigation water that is not available in scarce water conditions in drought situations. Therefore, proper planting method can improve irrigation water management. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the effects of two planting methods, on-bed and in furrow bottom, on maize growth and yield, and also on soil water content in root zone at different irrigation regimes in a semi-arid condition. The results can be used for improving or designing appropriate machinery maize cropping in-bottom of furrows. Experimental treatments were applied: water at amounts of 60, 80 and 100% of crop evapotranspiraton (ETc), and two planting methods on-bed and in-bottom of furrow were used. The experiment was conducted and analysed in a split-plot design with three replications. Results revealed that the irrigation regimes and planting methods had significant effects on grain yield and total dry matter of maize. The irrigation regime of 80% of ETc with planting in-bottom resulted in highest grain yield (8193 kg ha-1) and water use efficiency(1.05 kg m-3). Although the highest yield was obtained for in-bottom planting, the restricted root growth observed may be due to soil compaction resulting from furrower pressure on the soil. Hence, designing soil tillage tools for reducing the soil compaction beneath the seedbed is recommended for future studies.