MAIZE SECOND SEASON IRRIGATED BY CENTER PIVOT IN SANDY SOIL - DOI: 10.7127/rbai.v12n200825

Resumo

The aim of this study was to evaluate the development of a corn (Zea mays) crop grown in Brazil on a sandy soil, in a Savannah climate, and under center pivot irrigation. A randomized complete block design with four replicates of three irrigation treatments including a rainfed control treatment (I0), a 100% replacement (I1), and a 200% replacement (I2) of crop evapotranspiration (ETc). The grain yield (GY) and the plant characteristics including plant height (PH), corn cob insertion height (CIH), stem diameter (SD),  and (100) grain mass (M100) were measured. The grain yield results were (I2) 9,634 kg ha-1, (I1) 7,680 kg ha-1, and (I0) 4,229 kg ha-1. All of the plant characteristic variables had higher values for irrigated treatments than for the rainfed treatment. For all except M100, the I2 treatment increased plant characteristic values the most. The I1 just treatment had the highest values for M100. The sandy soil has good drainage and a high soil infiltration rate, so the higher irrigation depth for I2 did not cause water logging and poor aeration in the soil. Maintaining a higher moisture content increased grain yield, but a cost-benefit analysis is needed to assess cost effectiveness from applying more water.