Effect of furrow fertigation on fertilizer and water use efficiency, productivity and yield components of corn (Zea mays L.)

Water and nitrogen are the main limiting factors affecting agricultural production in arid and semiarid regions. Therefore, improving the efficiency of these factors is very important. The method of fertilizer application is affecting water and fertilizer use efficiency. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of furrow fertigation on fertilizer use efficiency (FUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and corn yield. A field experiment was carried out in furrows which have 165m length and 0.006 (m/m) slope in Karaj. The corn Hybrid 370 double-cross was planted on June 2008. A factorial design based on randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Four levels (0, 60, 80 and 100%) of the recommended fertilizer value and four levels (60, 80, 100, and 120%) of the irrigation water requirement were applied. These 16 treatments were compared with traditional fertilizer application method. Fertilizer treatments were accomplished in four critical stages of the growth (before cultivation, in seven leaves stage, shooting stage and Flowering stage) for fertigation treatments and two stages (before cultivation and seven leaves stage) for the traditional method. Results showed that effects of levels of different water and fertilizer on yield component were significant. Water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly affected by nitrogen rate. On the other hand, water treatments significantly affected fertilizer use efficiency. Increasing fertilizer increased water use efficiency. Increasing water levels to 100% of ETC resulted in increasing fertilizer use efficiency. Highest yield was obtained from the full irrigation treatments (W100%). Albeit the difference among W120%, W100% and W80% was not significant (P=0.05), because W100% was always higher than W120%, treatment of W80% recommends as optimum water level for arid and semi arid region. The maximum and minimum WUE was 2.24 and 0.66 (kg/m3) in W80%N100% and W100%N60%, and The maximum and minimum FUE was 29.85 and 8.52 (kg/kg) in W100%N100% and traditional method, respectively.