ISSN:
1573-0867
Keywords:
Zea mays L
;
water use efficiency
;
root development
;
mineral nutrition
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
Notes:
Abstract Defined relationships among grain yields, water-use efficiencies (WUE) and nutrient uptake of different genotypes under varied irrigation and nitrogen (N) regimes would be invaluable for optimizing production of corn (Zea mays L.). Our objective was to evaluate these factors for six popular corn hybrids grown in Nebraska. The procedure involved measuring the effects of three supplemental irrigation rates and two N rates on yields, consumptive water use (ET), water-use efficiency, and nutrient uptake of these hybrids in one field experiment. A second field experiment evaluated effects of irrigation timing on the same characteristics of the six hybrids. Soils employed for the field experiments were Sharpsburg sicl, a typic Argiudoll, and Zook sicl, a cumulic Haplaquoll. In addition, two greenhouse experiments measured above-ground and root yields, water use, and nutrient uptake of the six hybrids under limited and high soil moisture levels. From 30–40 percent reductions in grain and stover yields occurred by limiting moisture supply in the greenhouse but with no reduction in root yields. There was only a small benefit to grain and stover yields from the higher soil moisture levels provided in the field experiments because of very favorable rainfall amount and distribution in 1979. Light, frequent irrigation was advantageous to yield and WUE over the same total amount of water applied in larger, less frequent intervals explainable in part by a N use efficiency factor. Genotype B73xMo17 produced significantly higher grain, stover, root and total yields than the other hybrids under all moisture and N regimes. Amounts of water consumed by the six hybrids in the field experiments were similar, but because of higher yields B73xMo17 had the highest WUE values. This hybrid had greater root development in the field and took up disproportionately more P, Ca, S, Fe, Cu, and Zn and less Mn and Cl than the other hybrids suggesting that its superior yielding capacity may be related to efficiency in mobilizing and utilizing certain nutrients.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01051632
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