Effect of Irrigation and Nitrogen on Growth and Yield of Maize

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of irrigation amount applied with optimum irrigation on field maize (Zea mays L.) growth and yield in Bangladesh. Irrigation management treatments were created as rainfall irrigation, one irrigation, two irrigation'' s and three irrigations replenishment of water depleted in root zone from 100% replenishment treatment in every irrigation system. In BARJ hybrid maize-7 growth stages were significantly affected all parameters and the average grain yields varied from 6.61 to 10.32t ha-1• In BARI hybrid maize-9 growth stages were also affected all parameters and the average grain yields varied from 6.68 to 10.44 t ha-1• In the research, irrigation significantly affected growth and yields, which increased with irrigation up to three irrigation level increased growth and yield but remarkable varied rainfall irrigation and any irrigation system. Three time irrigations reference irrigation treatment gave the highest growth and grain yield. The results revealed that the full irrigation is the best choice for higher growth and yield. Due to the strong influence of nitrogen (N) on plant productivity a vast amount of N fertilizers is used to maximize crop growth and yield. Over­use of N fertilizers leads to severe pollution of the environment, especially the aquatic ecosystem as well as reducing farmer's income. Growing of N efficient cultivars is an important prerequisite for integrated nutrient management strategies in both low and high input agriculture. Taking maize as a sample crop, this paper reviews the response of plants to low N stress, the physiological processes which may control N use efficiency in low N and over use of N fertilizers input conditions. Since the modem hybrid maize cultivars is quite high, further improvement of these cultivars to adapt to low N soils should aim to increase their capacity to accumulate N at low N levels. The results show that a dose of 230 kg N ha-1 can provide significantly higher grain yield of maize, albeit 115 kg N ha-1 was comparable with it. A combination of 230 kg N ha-1 results in significantly higher values of yield attributes. This may be worth-recommending. But it would be better, if recommendation is made based on the economic optimum doses for maize. A field study was conducted to assess the interaction effects of irrigation and nitrogen rates on hybrid maize yield. The interaction effect of irrigations and nitrogen levels significantly influenced on BARI hybrid maize-7 of different growth and yield parameters viz. plant height, plant girth, total tillers planr1, effective tiller planr 1, non-effective tiller planr 1, total roots planf1, straw weight planf 1, straw yield t ha-', cob length, cob girth, grain line cob-1, grain number line-1, total grain cob-1, grain weight cob-1, 1000 grin weight cob-1, grain weight cob-1, l 000 grin weight cob-1, grains yield t ha-1, straw yield t ha-1 and biological yield t ha-' but no response in cob grain free length and harvest index (%)(Table 09 - 12). From the above research work it could be concluded that application of N @ 230kg ha-1 with three irrigations would be better for growth and yield of maize.