Effect of tillage, sowing time and irrigation levels on soil available moisture and water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2016-17at Research farm of Bihar Agricultural College, Sabour, to evaluate the effect of tillage, sowing time and irrigation levels on soil available moisture and water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment comprised of two tillage methods viz. conventional tillage (CT) and zero tillage (ZT) in main plot, two sowing dates- 30th October and 10th November as sub-plot and three irrigation levels (I2 - 2 irrigations at six-leaf stage and tasseling, I4 - 4 irrigations at four-leaf stage, ten leaf stage, tasseling and milking and I6 - 6 irrigations at four-leaf stage, eight leaf stage, ten leaf stage, tasseling, milking and dough stage) as sub-sub plot treatment. The results indicated that the seasonal evapotranspiration (SET) increased significantly with increase in number of irrigation application. With the increase in two irrigations from I2 to I4 the grain yield water use efficiency (WUEy) increased by 30 percent while with further increase in two irrigations (I6) resulted in 10 percent reduction in WUEy over I4 irrigation level. However, the I6 irrigation level recorded 17 percent higher WUEy over I2 irrigation level. Although grain yield were higher with six irrigations but ssignificantly higher water use efficiency was obtained due to ZT, early planting and I4 irrigation level.