Effects of alternate partial root-zone irrigation on yield and water use of sticky maize with fertigation

To investigate an efficient mode of water and fertilizer supply, a pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of alternate partial root-zone irrigation on dry mass accumulation, yield and water use of sticky maize with fertigation. Three irrigation methods, i.e. conventional irrigation (CI), alternate partial root-zone irrigation (APRI) and fixed partial root-zone irrigation (FPRI), and three fertilization methods, i.e. 100% of total fertilizer (0.2 g N, 0.15 g P2O5 and 0.2 g K2O kg−1 soil) as basal fertilizer (F1), 100% of total fertilizer (0.2 g N, 0.15 g P2O5 and 0.2 g K2O kg−1 soil) as basal fertilizer and topdressing with irrigation water (F2), 80% of total fertilizer (0.16 g N, 0.12 g P2O5 and 0.16 g K2O kg−1 soil) as basal fertilizer and topdressing with irrigation water (F3), were designed. Results show that compared to CI, APRI decreased more water consumption than total dry mass of sticky maize, thus increased water-use efficiency (WUE) on the basis of total dry mass. Compared to F1, F2 increased dry seed yield of sticky maize under APRI, thus WUE on the basis of dry seed (WUEs) and WUEs per unit fertilizer were also increased. Therefore sticky maize with 100% of total fertilizer as basal fertilizer and topdressing with irrigation water is an efficient mode of water and fertilizer supply under APRI in this study.

► APRI increased water-use efficiency (WUE) of sticky maize on the basis of total dry mass.
► 100% of total fertilizer as basal fertilizer and topdressing with irrigation water (F2) increased dry seed yield and WUE on the basis of dry seed under APRI.
► Sticky maize with F2 is an efficient mode of water and fertilizer supply under APRI.