Water productivity and yield of baby corn (Zea mays L.) as influenced by irrigation levels under subsurface drip irrigation

Abstract

An experiment was undertaken to estimate yield and water productivity of baby corn (Zea mays L.) variety F1 hybrid at varying irrigation water levels under subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) method at ICAR-CIAE, Bhopal in central India, during summer season. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with five irrigation treatments were considered in the experiment are 100% net irrigation water requirements (NIR), 75% NIR, 50% NIR, 120% NIR and 150% NIR corresponds to T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 treatments. Each treatment had 4 replications. Irrigation levels markedly influenced growth, yield components and yield of baby corn. Maximum yield of 2.05 t/ha was obtained under T1 treatment, however maximum irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) was recorded under T3 treatment with value of 25.74 kg/ha-mm and crop water use efficiency (CWUE) under T2 treatment with value of 7.32 kg/ha-mm. No significant difference was observed among the treatments T1, T2 and T4 in terms of yield. Least performance exhibited under T3 treatment with yield of 1.36 t/ha. Quadratic relationship was obtained between grain yield and irrigation rate and increased with irrigation rate from deficit to full irrigation treatments (FIT) and thereafter decreased for the over irrigation treatments. The findings of this study will be helpful for taking decision on how effectively water can be utilized for achieving maximum yield or maximum water use efficiency.