Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Researcher, Department of Agricultural Engineering Research, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, AREEO, Shiraz, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering Research, Fars Research and Education Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, AERO, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

 
Individual effects of conservation tillage and irrigation methods on corn yield and water productivity have been adequately investigated so far, but simultaneous effects of these treatments on corn production have not received enough attention. Therefore, in this research, effect of conservation tillage and irrigation methods on soil properties, water productivity, and corn yield was evaluated using a split plot experimental design with nine treatments and three replications. Main plots were allocated to irrigation methods including surface irrigation (gated pipe), tape irrigation, and sprinkler irrigation. Tillage methods including zero tillage (direct drilling), reduced tillage, and conventional tillage were in the sub plots. Soil bulk density, forage moisture content, water consumption, corn yield, and water productivity were measured in different tillage and irrigation treatments. Results showed that no-till increased soil bulk density at soil depth of 0-10 cm compared to the reduced and conventional tillage methods (9 and 4%, respectively); while, irrigation method had no significant effect on soil bulk density. Irrigation method had a significant effect on corn grain yield so that pressurized irrigation methods had the maximum corn yield, while the minimum corn yield was obtained from the surface irrigation. However, corn yield was not affected by tillage method. The maximum water consumption occurred in surface irrigation, and drip irrigation had the minimum. Drip irrigation saved 34% and 57% water compared to the sprinkler and surface irrigation methods, respectively. Water productivity in corn was significantly affected by irrigation methods; while, tillage methods had no significant effect on water productivity. The maximum water productivity (1.22 kg/m3 on average) was obtained in drip irrigation and the minimum water productivity (0.34 kg/m3 on average) belonged to the surface irrigation.

Keywords

  1. افضلی نیا، ص.، ع. ضیایی، س. ا. دهقانیان و س. م. علوی‌منش. 1395. اثر خاک­ورزی حفاظتی و روش‌های آبیاری بر بهره‌وری مصرف آب و عملکرد گندم در تناوب با پنبه (مطالعۀ موردی در استان فارس). مجله تحقیقات مهندسی سامانه ها و مکانیزاسیون کشاورزی، جلد 17، شماره 66، 57-70.
  2. ترک نژاد، ا.، م. آقایی سربزه، ح. جعفری، ع. ر. شیروانی، ر. روئین تن، ع. نعمتی و خ. شهبازی.  1385. ارزیابی فنی و اقتصادی روش آبیاری قطره‌ای در گندم و مقایسه آن با روش آبیاری سطحی. مجله پژوهش و سازندگی در زراعت و باغبانی، شماره 72، 36-44.
  3. سازمان جهاد کشاورزی استان فارس. 1387. تامل و تدبیر در مقابله با بحران آب زراعی استان فارس. انتشارات روابط عمومی سازمان چهاد کشاورزی استان فارس، شیراز، 183 صفحه.
  4. فرشی، ع .ا.، م .ر .شریعتی، ر .جاراللهی، م .ر .قائمی ,م .شهابی فر و م .ح .تولایی. .1376 برآورد آب مورد نیاز گیاهان عمده زراعی و باغی کشور، جلد اول :گیاهان زراعی، وزارت جهاد کشاورزی، نشر آموزش کشاورزی، کرج، 918 صفحه.
  5. Afzalinia, S., and J. Zabihi. 2014. Soil compaction variation during corn growing season under conservation tillage. Soil and Tillage Research, 137: 1-6.
  6. Asadi, M.E., and M.H. Razzaghi. 2011. Determination of maize water use efficiency under different managements of tillage, Workshop on Conservation Agriculture and Its Impact on water productivity, September 2011, Karaj, Iran, 131-152.
  7. Barzegar A.R, A.Yousefi, and A. Daryashenas. 2002. The effect of addition of different amounts and types of organic materials on soil physical properties and yield of wheat. Plant and Soil, 247 (2): 295-301.
  8. Bonfi, D.J., I. Mufradi, S. Klitman, and S. Asido. 1999. Wheat grain yield and soil profile water distribution in a no-till arid environment. Agronomy Journal, 91:368– 373.
  9. Cetin, O., and L. Bilgel. 2002. Effects of different irrigation methods on shedding and yield of cotton. Agricultural Water Management, 54: 1- 15.
  10. Chen, Y., S. Liu, H. Li, X. F. Li, C.Y. Song, R. M. Cruse, and X.Y. Zhang. 2011. Effects of conservation tillage on corn and soybean yield in the humid continental climate region of Northeast China. Soil and Tillage Research, 115 & 116: 56-61.
  11. Cruse, R., and D. Ressler. 2004. Lesson 8: Water flow in soil. Agronomy 502: Chemistry, physics, and biology of soils. CD-ROM. Iowa State University, Ames, USA.
  12. Fang, Q., X. Zhang,  L. Shao, S. Chen,  H. Sun. 2018. Assessing the performance of
  13. different irrigation systems on winter wheat under limited water supply. Agricultural Water
  14. 14.              Management, 196, 133-143.
  15. Feng, F.X, G.B. Huang, A.Z. Yu, Q. Chai, M. Tao, and J. Li. 2009. Effects of different conservation tillage measures on winter wheat water use in Wuwei oasis irrigated area. Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 20: 1060-1065.
  16. Gao, Y.J., and S.X. Li. 2005. Cause and mechanism of crop yield reduction under straw mulch in dry land. Transactions of the Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, 21: 15-19.
  17. Halvorson, A.D., A.R. Mosier, C.A. Reule, and W.C. Bausch. 2006. Nitrogen and tillage effects on irrigated continuous corn yields. Agronomy Journal, 98: 63–71.
  18. Halvorson, A.D., C.A. Reule, and L.S. Murphy. 2000. No-tillage and N fertilization enhance soil carbon sequestration. Fluid Journal, 8(3): 8-11.
  19. Haq, N. 1990. Evaluation of modern irrigation techniques for sandy loam soil having low slopes. M. Sc. Thesis, Dept. of Irrigation and Drainage, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakestan.
  20. Hassanli, A.M., Ebrahimizadeh, M.A., and S. Beecham. 2009. The effects of irrigation methods with effluent and irrigation scheduling on water use efficiency and corn yields in an arid region. Agricultural Water Management, 96(1): 93-99.
  21. Kerby, R. K. 2007.Infiltration rate comparison of no-tillage and conventional-tillage soils.M. Sc. Thesis, Graduate College Iowa State University, Ames, USA.
  22. Latif, M. 1990. Sprinkler irrigation to harness potential of water scarcity area in Pakistan. Technical Report No. 41. CEWRE. Pub. No. 37.
  23. Liu, C.A., S.L. Jin, L.M. Zhou, Y. Jia, F.M. Li, Y.C. Xiong, and X.G. Li. 2009. Effects of plastic film mulch and tillage on maize productivity and soil parameters. European Journal of Agronomy, 31(4): 241-249.
  24. López, M.V., and J.L. Arrúe. 1997. Growth, yield and water use efficiency of winter barley in response to conservation tillage in a semi-arid region of Spain. Soil and Tillage Research, 44: 35-54.
  25. McGarry D., B.J. Bridge, and B.J. Radford. 2000. Contrasting soil physical properties after zero and traditional tillage of an alluvial soil in semi-arid subtropics. Soil and Tillage Research, 53: 105-115.
  26. Parihar, C.M.,  S.L. Jat, A.K. Singh, A. Ghosh, N.S. Rathore, B. Kumar, S. Pradhan,
  27. K. Majumdar, T. Satyanarayana, M.L. Jat, Y.S. Saharawat, B.R. Kuri, D. Saveipune.
  28. 2017. Effects of precision conservation agriculture in a maize-wheat-mungbean rotation on
  29. crop yield, water-use and radiation conversion under a semiarid agro-ecosystem.
  30. Agricultural Water Management, 192, 306- 319.
  31. Shirani, H., M.A. Hajabbasi, M. Afyuni, and A. Hemmat. 2002. Effects of farmyard manure and tillage systems on soil physical properties and corn yield in central Iran. Soil & Tillage Research, 68: 101–108.
  32. Taser, O., and F. Metinoglu. 2005. Physical and mechanical properties of a clay soil as affected by tillage systems for wheat growth. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B-soil and Plant, 55: 186-191.
  33. Vervoort, R. W., S. M. Dabney, and M. J. M. Romkens. 2001. Tillage and row position effects on water and solute infiltration characteristics. Soil Society of America Journal, 65: 1227–1234.
  34. Wang, X.B., D.X. Cai, W.B. Hoogmoed, O. Oenema, and U.D. Perdok. 2007. Developments in conservation tillage in rainfed regions of North China. Soil and Tillage Research, 93: 239-250.