Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effects of different irrigation levels on water use, yield and some agronomic parameters of drip-irrigated corn under the Eastern Mediterranean climatic conditions in Turkey. In the trials, irrigation water was applied as I₂₀: 20%, I₄₀: 40%, I₆₀: 60%, I₈₀: 80%, I₁₀₀: 100% and I₁₂₀: 120% of evaporation from a Class A Pan. The seasonal total irrigation water ranged from 55 to 381 mm and seasonal crop water use varied from 365 to 584 mm in different treatments. Irrigation levels significantly affected yield and yield contributing parameters at P<0.01 level. The average corn grain yields varied from 1.93 to 10.4 t ha^-1. The highest grain yield and yield components were found in I₁₂₀ while the lowest were found in I₂₀ treatment. Irrigation levels had statistically significant effect on fresh and dry above ground biomass production of corn at P<0.01 level. The highest water use efficiency (1.77 kg m^-3) value was found in I₁₂₀ treatment. Seasonal yield response factor (ky) was 1.98 in the experiment.

Key words: Agronomic characteristics, corn, drip irrigation, yield, water use efficiency (WUE).