Effect of different irrigation regimes and fertigation strategies on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and water productivity under drip irrigation

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2022–23 at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India, to study the effect of different irrigation levels and fertigation strategies on the growth, yield, and water productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) under drip irrigation. The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The main plot treatments included three irrigation regimes based on pan evaporation (Epan) viz., D1: 100% Epan, D2: 80% Epan and D3: 60% Epan. The sub-plot treatments comprised five fertigation schedules (T1–T5) integrating various combinations of organic and inorganic NPK sources applied as basal and through fertigation. The results indicated that irrigation applied at 100% Epan recoded higher cob weight (122.0 g), cob girth (14.5 cm), grain weight per cob (99.8 g), number of grains per cob (450.0), and 100-grain weight (24.1 g), whereas D3 (60% PE) achieved the highest irrigation water productivity (3.3 kg m-3) and total water productivity (2.9 kg m-3). Among the different fertigation treatments, T5 (25% NPK from organic + 25% inorganic as basal + 50% through fertigation) significantly increased the cob weight (130.1 g), grain weight per cob (103.8 g), number of grains per cob (454.7), and 100-grain weight (24.5 g), grain yield (63.7 q ha-1) and biological yield (193.4 q ha-1). Similar results were recorded for irrigation water productivity (2.8 kg m-3) and total water productivity (2.6 kg m-3). The results of the study revealed that combining irrigation at 80 per cent of pan evaporation with integrated nutrient management (T5) offers an efficient and sustainable approach for improving maize productivity and water use efficiency under drip irrigation systems in water-limited regions.