Index on Primary Metabolites and Maize Yield Producutivity

Abstract

In the summer of 2023, a study was conducted in the Hawija district of Kirkuk to evaluate the impact of irrigation water quality and soil fertility on primary metabolites and maize crop productivity. Three distinct sites were selected for this assessment. The irrigation water quality index values, which ranged from 27.5 to 59.13, indicated that the water from all the wells used was unsuitable for irrigation. Concurrently, soil fertility values at all locations were found to be poor, ranging between 0.46 and 0.5.These suboptimal conditions had varying effects on the yield and primary metabolites of the maize crop at the selected sites. Specifically, the carbohydrate content in maize varied from 50.5 to 68.6 ppm across the sites. Protein levels ranged widely, from 4.02 to 57 ppm. Fatty acid content was measured between 68.54 and 84.34 ppm, while total chlorophyll content ranged from 25.84 to 33.71 ppm.The study also measured the weight of 100 maize , with the highest weights recorded at the first and third sites, each at 75, whereas the second site recorded the lowest weight at 65. The harvest index, which measures the efficiency of the crop in converting biomass into grain, showed a notable range across the sites. The highest harvest index was observed at the first location (0.0421%), while the third location recorded the lowest value (0.0283%).The overall biological outcomes of the study indicated a clear disparity in productivity among the sites. The second site was identified as the least productive, likely due to its poor soil fertility and substandard irrigation water quality. In contrast, the first site emerged as the most productive, suggesting relatively better conditions despite the general challenges posed by water and soil quality. This study underscores the critical influence of irrigation water quality and soil fertility on maize productivity.

Keywords

• iwqi
• sqi
• zea mays
• harvest index
• primary producutivity