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Effect of different furrow and plant spacing on yield and water use efficiency of maize

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  • Welde, Kidane
  • Gebremariam, Hintsa Libsekal

Abstract

In southern zone of Tigray, Ethiopia, there is a large competition between maize production and other horticultural crops for the limited irrigation water. Hence, there is an imminent need to improve the water use efficiency or more importantly the water productivity of the area. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of furrow and plant spacing and their interaction on yield and water use efficiency of maize. Experimental treatments include three levels furrow spacing (50, 70 and 90cm) and three levels of plant spacing (20, 25 and 30cm) were arranged in factorial RCBD design under three replications. Maize (BH543 variety) was used in this study in which all agronomic practices were treated equally including the amount of water applied. Maize water requirement was estimated using CROPWAT 8 software. The result revealed that there was significant difference among the treatments (p<0.05) for grain yield, biomass yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE). But it was not significantly different for the yield components (plant height and number of cobs per plant). Maximum grain yield (56.26qt/ha) and IWUE (0.876kg/m3) were obtained from 50cm furrow and 30cm plant spacing interaction. But maximum biomass yield (250.6qt/ha) was obtained from 50cm furrow and 20cm plant spacing interaction. The IWUE ranges from 0.357kg/m3 to 0.876kg/m3 for the equal amount of irrigation water applied (642mm) for each treatment. This shows how much IWUE of small scale farmers can vary as their agronomic practice (plant and furrow spacing) is different from one another. Hence, it can be concluded that irrigation agronomist experts and development agents of the study area must create awareness to the small scale farmers to exercise 50cm furrow spacing with 30cm plant spacing to improve and increase the water productivity of maize.

Suggested Citation

  • Welde, Kidane & Gebremariam, Hintsa Libsekal, 2016. "Effect of different furrow and plant spacing on yield and water use efficiency of maize," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 215-220.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:177:y:2016:i:c:p:215-220
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.07.026
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hagos, Fitsum & Makombe, Godswill & Namara, Regassa & Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele, 2008. "Importance of irrigated agriculture to the Ethiopian economy: capturing the direct net benefits of irrigation," Conference Papers h044133, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Stone, J. F. & Nofziger, D. L., 1993. "Water use and yields of cotton grown under wide-spaced furrow irrigation," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 27-38, September.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Yu Liu & Xiaohong Hu & Qian Zhang & Mingbo Zheng, 2017. "Improving Agricultural Water Use Efficiency: A Quantitative Study of Zhangye City Using the Static CGE Model with a CES Water−Land Resources Account," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, February.

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