Abstract
Drip irrigation combined with film mulching significantly improved water saving and agricultural efficiency in arid and semi-arid regions. However, the impact of various irrigation technical parameters under plastic film-mulched (PM) drip irrigation on water consumption and maize yield (Zea mays L.) for seed production is still unclear. Field experiments were conducted between 2016 and 2018 in Northwest China to investigate the effects of irrigation technical parameters (dripper discharge and irrigation interval) on biomass, grain yield, water, and nitrogen (N) use efficiency of the PM-maize for seed production. Four dripper discharges (1.38 L h−1, 2.0 L h−1, 2.5 L h−1, 3.0 L h−1) and five irrigation intervals (6 days, 8 days, 10 days, 12 days, 14 days) were selected. The normalized yield was used to analyze the effect of different treatments on the yield to eliminate the differences caused by uncontrollable factors, such as precipitation and temperature between different years. The results indicated a quadratic function among the final aboveground biomass, grain yield of maize for seed production, and irrigation intervals, with the highest value observed at 8 days irrigation interval. Both yield and nitrogen use efficiency measured as partial factor productivity of nitrogen (PFPN) decreased rapidly as the irrigation interval exceeded 10 days. When the irrigation interval increased from 10 to 14 days, the relative grain yield decreased between 6.5 and 16.0%, while the PFPN decreased between 1.1 and 99.2 kg kg−1. Crop evapotranspiration (ET) initially decreased and then increased as the irrigation interval increased. The water productivity (WPY-ET) was the highest at the irrigation interval of 8 days. The PFPN increased between 6.6 and 42.8 kg kg−1 at the dripper discharge of 3.0 L h−1 when compared with dripper discharge of 2.5 L h−1. The study showed an optimal dripper discharge–irrigation interval combination for maximizing water-resources utilization and yield increase. When biomass, grain yield, ET, and WPY-ET are considered simultaneously, the most suitable irrigation technical parameters of maize for seed production in Northwest China are the combination of 2.5 L h−1 and 8 days. Furthermore, a combination of 3.0 L h−1 and 8 days is more conducive to reducing fertilizer costs.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
28 October 2021
The original version was revised due to update in figure 1
27 October 2021
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-021-00755-x
References
Abdullah O (2006) Effect of different irrigation intervals to drip irrigated dent Corn (Zea mays L. indentata) water-yield relationship. Pak J Biol Sci 9(8):1476–1481
Ali H, Ahmed N, Abu-Hashim M (2019) Potential effect of irrigation intervals and potassium phthalate on fennel plants grown in semi-arid regions. Egypt J Soil Sci 60(1):83–98
Allen RG, Pereia LS, Raes D, Smith M (1998) Crop evapotranspiration: guidelines for computing crop water requirements. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56. FAO, Rome
Amin MT, Anjum L, Alazba AA, Rizwan M (2015) Effect of the irrigation frequency and quality on yield, growth and water productivity of maize crops. Qual Assur Saf Crop 7(5):721–730
Bai S, Kang Y, Wan S (2020) Winter wheat growth and water use under different drip irrigation regimes in the North China Plain. Irrig Sci 38(3):321–335
Benasher J, Charach C, Zemel A (1986) Infiltration and water extraction from trickle irrigation source: the effective hemisphere model. Soil Sci Soc Am J 50(4):882–887
Boamah PO, Sam-Amoah LK, Owusu-Seky JD (2010) Effect of irrigation interval on growth and development of tomato under sprinkler. Afr J Agric Res 4(4):196–203
Brar HS, Vashist KK (2020) Drip irrigation and nitrogen fertilization alter phenological development and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.) under semi-arid conditions. J Plant Nutr 43(12):1757–1767
Bresler E (1978) Analysis of trickle irrigation with application to design problem. Irrig Sci 1(1):3–17
Bresler E, Kemper WD (1970) Soil water evaporation as affected by wetting methods and crust formation. Soil Sci Soc Am J 34(1):3–8
Cassman KG, Gines GC, Dizon MA, Samson MI, Alcantara JM (1996) Nitrogen-use efficiency in tropical lowland rice systems: contributions from indigenous and applied nitrogen. Field Crop Res 47(1):1–12
Colombo A, Or D (2006) Plant water accessibility function: a design and management tool for trickle irrigation. Agric Water Manag 82(1):45–62
El-Hendawy SE, Schmidhalter U (2009) Optimal coupling combinations between irrigation frequency and rate for drip-irrigated maize grown on sandy soil. Agric Water Manag 97(3):439–448
Geerts S, Raes D (2009) Deficit irrigation as an on-farm strategy to maximize crop water productivity in dry areas. Agric Water Manag 96(9):1275–1284
Guinn G, Mauney JR, Fry KE (1981) Irrigation scheduling and plant population effects on growth, bloom rates, boll abscission, and yield of cotton. Agron J 73(3):529–534
EI-Hendawy SE, Hokam EM, Schmidhalter U (2008) Drip irrigation frequency:the effects and their interaction with nitrogen fertilization on sandy soil water distribution, maize yield and water use efficiency under Egyptian conditions. J Agron Crop Sci 194(3):180–192
Hokam EM, El-Hendawy SE, Schmidhalter U (2011) Drip irrigation frequency: the effects and their interaction with nitrogen fertilization on maize growth and nitrogen use efficiency under arid conditions. J Agron Crop Sci 197(3):186–201
Huang XF, Hu B, Ou SX (2019) Effects of drip irrigation zone layout and drip head flow on soil water and nitrogen distribution and spring wheat yield. Agric Eng 9(10):81–87
Jiang XL, Tong L, Kang SZ, Li FS, Li DH, Qin YH, Shi RC, Li JB (2018) Planting density affected biomass and grain yield of maize for seed production in an arid region of Northwest China. J Arid Land 10(2):292–303
Kang SZ, Hao XM, Du TS, Tong L, Su XL, Lu HN, Li XL, Huo ZL, Li SE, Ding RS (2017) Improving agricultural water productivity to ensure food security in China under changing environment: from research to practice. Agric Water Manag 179:5–17
Kumar M, Pannu RK, Singh B, Dhaka AK (2017) Response of irrigation frequency and nitrogen levels on relative water content, canopy temperature, water potential and chlorophyll content of late sown wheat. Int J Pure Appl Biosci 5(2):173–179
Li M, Guo P (2015) Water resources management models based on two-level linear fractional programming method under uncertainty. J Water Resour Plan Manag 141(9):05–15
Li MS, Kang SZ, Sun HY (2006) Study on the relationship between drip head flow and wetting body of point source drip irrigation. Trans Chin Soc Agric Eng 22(4):32–35
Li F, Ma C, Hao LH, Li SB, Zheng YP (2019) Effects of discharge of dripper on soil water and heat energy movements under water storage pit irrigation. In: Dong W et al (eds) Sustainable development of water resources and hydraulic engineering in China. Springer, China, pp 399–406. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61630-8_34
Liu T, Wu X, Zheng ZC, Li TX (2016) Effects of irrigation frequency on water and salt movement in greenhouse soil. J Ecol Rural Environ 32(4):622–631
Liu H, Gao Y, Sun JS, Wu XL, Li Y (2017) Responses of yield, water use efficiency and quality of short-season cotton to irrigation management: interactive effects of irrigation methods and deficit irrigation. Irrig Sci 35(2):125–139
Lopes LN, Martins E, Santoro BL, Souza CF (2009) Water distribution characterization in soil for drip irrigation. IRRIGA 14(4):564–577
Meng QF, Sun QP, Chen XP, Cui ZL, Rmheld V (2012) Alternative cropping systems for sustainable water and nitrogen use in the North China Plain. Agric Ecosyst Environ 146(1):93–102
Meshkat M, Warner RC, Workman SR (2000) Evaporation reduction potential in an undisturbed soil irrigated with surface drip and sand tube irrigation. Trans ASAE 43(1):79–86
Montoro A, Mañas F, López-Urrea R (2016) Transpiration and evaporation of grapevine, two components related to irrigation strategy. Agric Water Manag 177:193–200
Oktem A (2006) Effect of different irrigation intervals to drip irrigated dent corn (Zea mays L. indentata) water-yield relationship. Pak J Biol Sci 9(8):1476–1481
Oladele AG, Sunday FA, Samuel SO, Afolabi JT, Dorcas OA (2016) Effect of drip irrigation frequency and N-fertilization on soil physical properties, yield and water use efficiency of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in Ado Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria. J Biol Agric Healthc 6(4):32–46
Padrón RAR, Lopes SJ, Renedo VSG (2018) Estimation of the optimal plot size and number of replications in a field pepper crop experiment with varying irrigation depths and application frequencies. Sci Hortic 237:96–104
Rana G, Katerji N (2000) Measurement and estimation of actual evapotranspiration in the field under Mediterranean climate: a review. Eur J Agron 13(2–3):125–153
Rasool G, Guo XP, Wang ZC, Ullah I, Chen S (2020) Effect of two types of irrigation on growth, yield and water productivity of maize under different irrigation treatments in an arid environment. Irrig Drain 69(4):732–742
Sabra AS, Astatkie T, Alataway A, Mahnoud AA, Gendy ASH, Ahl S-A, Hussein AH, Tkachenk KG (2018) Response of biomass development, essential oil and composition of plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) spreng to irrigation frequency and harvest time. Chem Biodivers 15(3):1–7
Sensoy S, Ertek A, Gedik I, Kucukyumuk C (2007) Irrigation frequency and amount affect yield and quality of field-grown melon (Cucumis melo L.). Agric Water Manag 88(1–3):269–274
Skaggs TH, Trout TJ, Rothfuss Y (2010) Drip irrigation water distribution patterns: effects of emitter rate, pulsing, and antecedent water. Soil Sci Soc Am J 74(6):1886–1896
Sun H, Li MS, Ding H, Wang YX, Cui WM (2009) Experiments on effect of dripper discharge on cotton-root distribution. Trans Chin Soc Agric Eng 25(11):13–18
Wang FX, Kang Y, Liu SP (2006) Effects of drip irrigation frequency on soil wetting pattern and potato growth in North China Plain. Agric Water Manag 79(3):248–264
Wang ZH, Zheng XR, Ren J, An JB (2007) Experimental study on the influence of irrigation frequency on soil water movement law of infiltration by underground drip irrigation line source. J Hydraul Eng S1:299–302
Wang XK, Li ZB, Xing YY (2014) Effects of dripper discharge and irrigation frequency on growth and yield of maize in loess plateau of northwest China. Pak J Bot 46(3):1019–1025
Yu M, Yang JS, Liu MX, Li XM, Wang J (2010) Effects of different mulched drip irrigation modes on soil moisture and cotton yield. J Agro Environ Sci 29(12):2368–2374
Zhang L, Fan XK, Wu PT, Niu WQ, Yu LM (2010) Experimental research on crop growth under low flow and micro-pressure drip Irrigation. J Irrig Drain 29(2):65–68
Acknowledgements
We are extremely grateful to the anonymous reviewers and editors for their thoughtful suggestions and valuable comments, which are helpful in improving the manuscript. This research was financially supported by the Government Public Research Funds for Projects of the Ministry of Agriculture (201503125).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ma, S., Tong, L., Kang, S. et al. Optimal coupling combinations between dripper discharge and irrigation interval of maize for seed production under plastic film-mulched drip irrigation in an arid region. Irrig Sci 40, 177–189 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-021-00739-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-021-00739-x