Evaluation of Maize Response to Salinity under Drip Irrigation and Irrigation Management

Abstract

In addition of water shortage and hightemperature, severe salinity of soil and water also causes problems in arid and semi-aridareas. In these areas, drip irrigation can overcome on environmentallimitations for sustainable crop production. To study the response of maize to salinity underdrip irrigation and irrigation management, was carried out an experiment at split plots based on randomizedcomplete block design. In this research, main plots were both irrigation management strategies of blending and one-alternate of saline water (4, 5 and 6 ds/m) with Karoun riverand subplots were treatments of water salinity. The results showed that by increase in salinity,maize yield, biomass, height, 1000-grains weight and irrigation waterproductivity decreased. Theblending strategies of fresh and saline water improved grain yield and water productivity inlevels of high salinity. Fainally, the rate of yield decrease for every 1 ds/mincrease in salinity of soil was about 9 percent

Keywords

• drip irrigation
• water productivity
• salinity
• maize