Management of planting system based on water balance patterns on corn plants using Cropwat 8.0 model

Abstract

Corn plants are the second most important food crop after rice; however, climate anomalies will affect the amount of production that is related to the water requirements available during the process of growing corn plants. This study aims to determine the amount of effective rainfall in one year and the need for irrigation water in one planting season, the water requirements for maize in a particular planting period and the comparison of the rate of evapotranspiration and the level of water that must be available to plants. This research was conducted from May to September 2014 at the Agricultural Technology Research Institute (BPTP) of South Sulawesi, Gowa Regency. The data obtained in the field was then processed using the simulation method of a Windows-based application, Cropwat 8.0. The results show that the water needs of corn plants in each growth phase are: 107 mm/decade in the early development phase, 132.9 mm / decade in the mid-phase, and 107.4 mm / decade in the late phase. The amount of rain data for a year in 2014 obtained using Cropwat was 395.6 mm, and the effectiveness of the rain that occurs was 355.9 mm. These figures then used to determine the irrigation water needs for one growing season.