Water-yield relations of maize (Zea mays L) in temperate climatic conditions

Abstract

A field study was carried out from 2001 to 2007 in order to determine the water-yield relationship of maize in the Vojvodina region, a northern part of the Serbia Republic. The yield response factor (Ky) was calculated to express the response of maize to water stress both for the growing season and specific growth stages. To assess the effectiveness of irrigation on maize yield, an irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and evapotranspiration water use efficiency (ETWUE) were determined. The study indicated that in the climatic conditions of Vojvodina maize is most sensitive to water stress in the flowering and pollination stage (Ky = 0.52), but less sensitive in the stages of vegetative gowth (Ky = 0.37), grain filling and maturity (Ky 0.41). Values of yield response factor in the growing period (Ky = 0.54) indicated that maize is moderately sensitive to soil water stress in the temperate climatic conditions of Vojvodina. The IWUE and ETWUE were in intervals of 0.47 to 3.00 kg m-3 and 0.67 to 2.34 kg m-3 respectively, mostly depending on the extent of favorable conditions of the season for maize production and irrigation water applied. The parameters Ky, IWUE and ETWUE could be used by maize growers as a guide in the study region in terms of optimum utilization of irrigation water for the planning, design and operation of irrigation projects and for improving the production technology of the crop.