Effect of Trickle Irrigation Amount and Planting Arrangement on Corn

In order to study the effect of planting arrangements and water quantities in drip irrigation on
yield of maize, an experiment was carried out using a spilt block based on randomized
complete block design for three years (2006-09) in Moghan. The factorial experiment had
three planting densities (75000, 85000 and 95000 plants per hectare ) with one- and two-rows
cultivation (B1= one row cultivation with one drip irrigation lateral, B2= two cultivation rows
with one lateral between them) and four levels of irrigation including: I1= 100%, I2= 50%, I3=
75%, and I4= 125 percent of evapotranspiration. Traits such as plant height, ear height,
number of rows on ear, number of grains on rows, 1000 grains weight and grain yield with
14%moisture were measured. The result of combined variance analysis showed significant
difference between irrigation levels at 1% level. Highest grain yield was obtained from
I4,while the lowest yield belonged to I2. On the other hands, the highest and lowest water use
efficiency (WUE) belonged to I2 and I4, respectively. There was no significant difference
among planting densities and cultivation methods. However, density of 75000 plants per
hectare and one row cultivation had the highest grain yield among the treatments.