Effect of Tillage, Nitrogen Fertilizer, and Water Stress on Crop Growth Indices and Yield of Forage Corn (Zea mays L.)

To study the effect of nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation regimes on some crop growth indices of forage maize under conventional and conservation tillage system, an experiment has been conducted in split plots with a randomized complete block design and three replications at University of Tehran’s farm during 2018. Tillage systems, as the main plot in two factors, include conversation and conventional tillage, whereas water stress, being the subplot, is in three levels which are 30%, 60%, and 90% of moisture requirement. Also, nitrogen fertilizer, as the sub-sub plot, is at three levels, 0, 50%, and 100% of the recommended rate. Results in the flowering stage show that the highest leaf area index (6.28) and crop growth rate (34.01 gr m-2 day-1) have been obtained from the interaction between slight water stress (90% of crop water demand) and nitrogen (100% of crop demand) as well as the interaction between slightly water stress and 100% nitrogen in conventional tillage, respectively. The highest relative growth rate (0.08 gr gr-1 day-1) and total dry matter (1006.86 gr m-2) belong to simple impact of 100% nitrogen along with the interaction of slightly water stress and 100% nitrogen in conventional tillage, respectively. Results show that under severe water stress and higher application of nitrogen, the fertilizer will cause less crop dry matter under conventional tillage.