Influence of Drip Fertigation on Yield, Water Saving and Water Use Efficiency in Maize (Zea mays L.) Based Intercropping System 243
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Author:P. Muthukrishnan and S. Anitta Fanish
p-ISSN:0024-9602, e-ISSN:2582-5321, Vol:98, Issue:jul-sep
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29321/MAJ.10.100286
Abstract
Field experiment was conducted at farmer's field at Palani taluk of Dindigul district in
Tamil Nadu during kharif 2008 with the objective of evaluating the drip fertigation on water
saving and Water Use Efficiency (WUE) in intensive maize based intercropping system. The
experiment was laid out in strip plot design with three replications. The experiment consisted
of 9 fertigation levels in main plot and 4 intercrops in sub plot. Among the different fertigation
levels, higher maize grain yield of 7300 kg ha -1 was recorded under drip fertigation of 100 per
cent RDF with 50 per cent P and K through water soluble fertilizer (WSF) followed by application
of 150 per cent RDF through drip (7050 kg ha -1 ). The yield increase over drip irrigation with soil
application of fertilizer was 39 per cent. Drip irrigation helped to save water upto 43.65 per
cent compared to surface irrigation method. Among the different intercrops tested, higher WUE
of 21.0 kg ha-1 mm -1 was observed under maize + vegetable coriander intercropping system.
Key words : Drip fertigation, maize, intercropping system, water saving, water use efficiency.