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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Water Management and Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #371129
Research Project: Improving the Sustainability of Irrigated Farming Systems in Semi-Arid Regions

Location: Water Management and Systems Research

Title: Response of maize yield components to growth stage-based deficit irrigation

Author
item Zhang, Huihui
item HAN, MING - University Of Waterloo
item Comas, Louise
item DeJonge, Kendall
item Gleason, Sean
item Trout, Thomas
item Ma, Liwang

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/3/2019
Publication Date: 9/19/2019
Citation: Zhang, H., Han, M., Comas, L.H., DeJonge, K.C., Gleason, S.M., Trout, T.J., Ma, L. 2019. Response of maize yield components to growth stage-based deficit irrigation. Agronomy Journal. 111:14-9. https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2019.03.0214.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj2019.03.0214

Interpretive Summary: A three-year experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of deficit irrigation on corn in the late vegetative (Lveg) and maturation(Mat) growth stages. Phenology, dry leaf weight, above ground biomass, yield, kernel number, 1000 kernel weight, and grain filling rate were measured and evaluated. Water deficit during the Lveg decreased the kernel number and dry leaf weight, thus decreasing the potential grain filling rate. Deficit irrigation applied during the Mat directly reduced the grain filling rate and duration and thus had the strongest effect on grain yield. The reduction in yield associated with water deficit applied during the Lveg was exacerbated by water deficit applied during the Mat. Yield reduction was proportional with the severity of the water deficit, in all cases. If farmers have reduced water allocations but seasonal flexibility in the timing of irrigation water application, they will maximize yield by saving water for reproductive and maturation growth stages.

Technical Abstract: In the face of declining water resources and climatic variability, growth stage-based deficit irrigation may be a feasible approach to enhance agricultural system resilience. A three-year experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of deficit irrigation on maize (Zea mays L.) in the late vegetative (Lveg) and maturation (Mat) growth stages, where phenology, dry leaf weight, above ground biomass, yield, kernel number, 1000 kernel weight, and grain filling rate were evaluated. Water deficit during the Lveg stage decreased the kernel number and dry leaf weight, thus decreasing the potential grain filling rate (less photosynthetic tissue). In contrast with deficit applied during the Lveg stage, deficit applied during the Mat stage directly reduced the grain filling rate and duration and thus had the strongest effect on grain yield. A growth stage interaction was evident, such that the reduction in yield associated with water deficit applied during the Lveg stage was exacerbated by water deficit applied during the Mat stage. Yield reduction was proportional with the severity of the water deficit, in all cases. Nevertheless, water deficit applied during the Mat stage had a larger impact on maize yield compared to water deficit applied during the Lveg stage. If farmers have reduced water allocations but seasonal flexibility in the timing of irrigation water application, they will maximize yield by saving water for reproductive and maturation growth stages.