Harshitha BV, Denesh GR, Fathima PS and Dakshayani VP

Transcription

1 207; 6(5): E-ISSN: P-ISSN: JPP 207; 6(5): Received: Accepted: Harshitha BV Sr. M. Sc. (Agronomy) Student, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, V. C. Farm, Mandya, Karnataka, India Denesh GR Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Department of Agronomy, College of Fathima PS Professor and Head, Department of Agronomy, College of Dakshayani VP Sr. M. Sc. (Agronomy) Student, Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, V. C. Farm, Mandya, Karnataka, India Studies on irrigation levels and foliar phosphorus nutrition on growth, yield, water use efficiency, soil properties and economics of maize (Zea mays L.) under drip fertigation Harshitha BV, Denesh GR, Fathima PS and Dakshayani VP Abstract The field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, V.C. Farm, Mandya, UAS, Bangalore, Southern dry zone of Karnataka during kharif 206 to study the effect of irrigation levels and foliar phosphorus nutrition on growth, yield, water use efficiency, soil properties and economics of maize under drip fertigation. The results revealed that, irrigation at 80% CPE recorded higher kernel (5753 kg ha - ), stover yield (9642 kg ha - ), growth and yield parameters of maizeand were statistically on par with irrigation at 00% CPE. Complementary to this, root density (.9 g cc - ) at 60 DAS and WUE (24.45 kg ha-cm - ) were significantly higher with irrigation at 80% CPE. Whereas, FA of WSPF at 5 or 20 kg ha - recorded higher kernel yield (5469 to 5787 kg ha - ), stover yield (975 to 9722 kg ha - ), growth and yield parameters and PUE ( to kg kg - ) of maize and were statistically on par with fertigation of WSPF or soil application of SSP. Similarly comparable results were with interaction. The soil chemical properties were on par for irrigation at 80 and 00 % CPE levels, similarly with P application methods and their interaction except for available soil P with soil application of SSP. The irrigation at 80% CPE recorded higher net returns and B:C ratio (42,723 Rs ha - and 2.00, respectively). Further among, the higher net returns and B:C ratio were with FA of WSPF at 20 kg ha - (43,78 Rs ha - and 2.00, respectively) and were comparable with fertigation of WSPF or soil application of SSP. Keywords: Maize, Irrigation, Fertigation, Phosphorus, Foliar nutrition, Water use efficiency, Phosphorus use efficiency, Economics Introduction Maize is the third most important crop after wheat and rice in India. The present day dwindling water availability, irrigation using drip system provides an alternative to save irrigation water and increase water use efficiency. Drip irrigation also facilitates to use fertilizers through water as fertigation. However, increased water soluble phosphorous fertilizer cost marks in higher cost on cultivation and which sequentially reduces the profit to maize growing farmers under drip fertigation. Further, foliar application of phosphorous is having as high as 50% phosphorous use efficiency (Syers et al., 2007) [4] unlike soil applied phosphorous with 0 to 5%. This can help in reduced fertilizer usage and assistances in minimized soil buildup and its impact on environmental threatening such as eutrophication of water bodies etc., In view of this, the experiment was conducted to know the influence of irrigation levels and foliar phosphorus nutrition on growth, yield, water use efficiency, soil properties and economics of maize (Zea mays L.) under drip fertigation. Correspondence Denesh GR Assistant Professor of Agronomy, Department of Agronomy, College of Material and methods The field experiment was conducted at Agronomy field unit, College of Agriculture, V.C. Farm, Mandya during The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam with medium OC (0.65 %), EC (0.23 ds m - ), low in available nitrogen (79.80 kg ha - ), high in phosphorus (48.33 kg ha - ) and medium in potassium ( kg ha - ) content. The experiment was laid out in Factorial-RCBD comprising of two factors viz., irrigation at two levels (00 and 80 % CPE) and phosphorus application methods at five levels [0, 5 and 20 kg ha - foliar application (FA) of water soluble phosphorus fertilizer (WSPF) and were compared with recommended dose of P (75 kg ha - ) through fertigation of WSPF and soil application of SSP (Single super phosphate)]. The combination of 0 treatments were replicated thrice and N and K given under drip fertigation. The planting geometry adopted was paired row spacing of 30/90cm X 30 cm under drip irrigation. The irrigation was given at 2 days interval based on ~ 984 ~

2 USWB open pan evaporimeter evaporation data. Foliar application of phosphorus was given as per the treatment in two equal splits at 20 and 45 DAS by using water soluble Mono ammonium phosphate (MAP) which contains 6% P 2O 5 and 2% N. The phosphorus fertilizers used for fertigation and soil application of phosphorous were MAP and SSP, respectively in the P 4 and P 5 treatments. The recommended dose of nitrogen and potassium were applied by using urea and MOP fertilizer through fertigation stating from 0 DAS up to 58 DAS at an interval of 4 days. Soil chemical properties viz., ph, organic carbon and electrical conductivity were analyzed using potentiometric method, wet [5] oxidation method (Walkley and Black, 934) and conductometric method (Jackson, 973) [6], respectively. Further, available N, P 2O 5 and K 2O in soil were analyzed with alkaline potassium permanaganate method (Subbaiah and Asija, 956), Brays extract method (Jackson, 973) [6] and [6] flame photometry (Jackson, 973), respectively. Phosphorus content in leaves was analyzed di-acid digestion and vanadomolybdate method (Piper, 966).Observations were recorded for growth and yield parameters from five randomly selected plants. The results obtained were analyzed by using F and t test at 5% probability level as given by Panse and Sukhatme (967) []. Results and Discussion Growth, yield and yield parameters of maize Irrigation at 80 % CPE recorded higher kernel (5753 kg ha - ) and stover yield of maize (9642 kg ha - ) and was statistically on par with irrigation at 00% CPE (559 and 9477 kg ha - ) (Table ). This could be due to irrigation supplied at 80 % CPE was sufficient to meet the consumptive water use of maize plant as evidenced by similar growth parameters under this study viz., plant height (85.0 and 86.5 cm) at harvest, number of leaves at 60 DAS (3.2 and 3.3), LAI at 60 DAS (3.79 and 3.94) and total dry matter production (320.9 and g plant - ) at harvest, which inturn influenced on similar yield parameters of maize viz., cob length (6.4 and 6.7 cm), cob girth (6.5 and 6.6 cm), kernels per cob (496. and 499),kernel weight (46.0 and 52.7 g cob - ) and shelling percentage (68.7 and 69.5%) with the irrigation at 80 and 00% CPE, respectively (Table 2). Added to this, significantly higher root density at 60 DAS with irrigation at 80 % CPE (.9 g cc - ) as compared to irrigation at 00% CPE (0.93 g cc - ) (Table 2).The results obtained under this study are in conformity with Hussein and Pibars (202) [4] for irrigation at 00 and 75 % ET c, Mathukia et al. (20) [8] for irrigation at 0.8 and.00 IW/CPE ratio and Aydinsakir et al., (20) at 00 and 75 % field capacity. Among, foliar application (FA) of water soluble phosphorus fertilizer (WSPF) at 5 or 20 kg ha - recorded higher kernel (5469 to 5787 kg ha - ) and stover yield (975 to 9722 kg ha - ) of maize and was statistically similar with application of recommended dose of P (75 kg P 2O 5 ha - ) through fertigation of WSPF (5967 and 9520 kg ha -, respectively) or soil application of SSP (5737 and 9972 kg ha -, respectively). The higher kernel yield with FA of WSPF could be due higher phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) of 50 per cent with foliar application of P as against 0 and 5 per cent in soil applied treatment (Syers et al., 2007) [4]. Further, in the former treatment phosphorus was made available in the foliar applied treatment from 20 DAS up to reproductive stage (40 DAS) to meet the P requirements of maize might become optimum level similar to fertigation of WSPF or soil application of SSP. The results were also evidenced by similar higher growth and yield parameters under this study (Table ~ 985 ~ 2). Promote to this, FA of WSPF at 20 kg ha - produced higher root density (.44 g cc - ) and P content in leaves (0.32%) at 60 DAS and were statistically similar with recommended P application through fertigation of WSPF or soil application of SSP (.4 to.23 g cc - and 0.3 to 0.32%, respectively) (Table &2). The present results are in conformity with Girma et al. (2004) for FA of P at 8 kg ha -. of irrigation and recorded no significant difference for kernel (504 to 5982 kg ha - ) and stover yield (8678 to 873 kg ha - ) of maize, except for shelling percentage which was higher with irrigation at 80 % CPE with fertigation of WSPF (79.0 %) (Table & 2). Water and phosphorus use efficiency: Irrigation at 80 % CPE recorded significantly superior WUE (24.45 kg ha-cm - ) compared to00 % CPE (06.08 kg hacm - ). The total water used was cm with irrigation at 80 % CPE as against cm with irrigation at 00 % CPE. This saves.7 % total irrigation water in the former treatment. The interaction of irrigation at 80 or 00 % CPE along with FA of WSPF at 5 to 20 kg ha - recorded higher WUE (99.98 to kg ha-cm - ) and was statistically similar with irrigation at 80 or 00% CPE with recommended P application (75 kg P 2O 5 ha - ) through fertigation of WSPF or soil application of SSP (06.98 to kg ha-cm - ). The results showed that irrigation at 80% CPE and application of 5 or 20 kg ha - WSPF through foliar application was similar efficient in water and nutrient absorption which consequently influenced on higher kernel yield of maize. The results are in covenant with Ibrahim et al. (206) [5] under different irrigation levels (Table ). FA of WSPF at 0 to 20 kg ha - registered higher phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) ( to kg kg - ) as compared to application of recommended dose (75 kg ha - ) of P through fertigation or soil application of SSP (76.5 to kg kg - ). Similarly, interaction of irrigation at 80 or 00% CPE with FA of WSPF at 0 to 20 kg ha - recorded higher PUE (287.0 to kg kg - ) as compared torecommended dose (75 kg ha - ) of P through fertigation of WSPF or soil application of SSP (74.20 to kg kg - ). The higher PUE could be due to increased yield in the former treatments similar to fertigation or soil application of SSP apart from lower fertilizer use through FA. Added to this, foliar applied P having higher use efficiency of P as explained above (Table ). Similar results were obtained with Mosali et al. (2003) for FA of P at 2 kg ha -. Economics The cost on irrigation was lower with 80 % CPE (Rs. 5,400 ha - ) as compared to 00 % CPE (Rs. 6,480 ha - ) due to lower number of labours and irrigation water cost. The cost on P management was lower with FA of 5 or 20 kg ha - WSPF (4643 to 5097 ha - ) as compared to application of recommended dose (75 kg P 2O 5) of P through fertigation of WSPF (Rs. 9,535 ha - ). Though, soil application of SSP recorded lower cost on P fertilizer (Rs. 3,792 ha - ) because of low cost of SSP fertilizer (Rs. 8.2 kg - ) (Table 3).Irrigation at 80 % CPE recorded higher net returns and B:C ratio (42,723 Rs ha - and 2.00, respectively) as compared and 00 % CPE. Complementary to this, additional returns of Rs. 3,077 ha - was obtained with irrigation at 80 % CPE as compared to irrigation at 00 % CPE. The results are in conformation with Mathukia et al. (20) [8] for irrigation at 0.8 and.00 IW/CPE.

3 Foliar application of 20 kg ha - WSPF recorded higher net returns and B:C ratio (Rs. 43,78 ha - and 2.02, respectively) as compared to recommended dose (75 kg P 2O 5 ha - ) of P through fertigation of WSPF or soil application of SSP (4,044 to 43,648 Rs. ha - and.87 to 2.05, respectively). Conversely, the reasons for higher B:C ratio with soil application of SSP was mentioned in the above paragraph. Complementing to the above results, FA of WSPF at 20 kg ha - gave 2674 Rs. ha - additional returns as against Rs ha - with soil application of SSP over recommended (75 kg P 2O 5 ha - ) P application through fertigation (Table 3). Matching results are also reported by Naik, M. U. (202) [0] with.5 or 2 % FA of DAP and Mallesha (203) [7] for 0.75 and.0 % FA of WSF. Soil properties after harvest Soil chemical properties were on par for irrigation at 80 and 00 % CPE levels, similarly with and their interaction (Table 4). However, soil application of recommended dose (75 kg ha - ) of P through SSP recorded significantly higher available soil phosphorus (80.8 kg ha - ) at harvest among P managements (Table 4). This obliges buildup of soil phosphorus with the application of recommended dose of P through SSP. In contrast to this, with the similar yield levels and nutrient uptake, the application of recommended dose (75 kg ha - ) of P through fertigation recorded analogous available soil P (70.8 kg ha - ) at harvest as compared to FA of 0 to 20 kg ha - through WSPF (72.8 to75.3 kgha - ). This illustrates the chances of applied water soluble phosphorous leached down to subsoil or precipitation of P in soil under fertigation. These results are in agreement with Honnappa (204) [3] with fertigation and soil application of SSP. Table : Kernel yield, stover yield, water use efficiency and phosphorous content in leaves at 60 DAS of maize under drip fertigation as influenced by irrigation levels and phosphorus management through foliar nutrition in maize under drip fertigation Treatments Kernel yield (kg ha - ) Stover yield (kg ha - ) Total water used (mm) ~ 986 ~ WUE (kg ha-cm - ) Per cent water saving over 00 % CPE PUE (kg kg - ) P content in leaves (%) at 60 DAS Factor- A: I: 00 % CPE I2: 80 % CPE S.Em NA 3.26 NA CD (p= 0.05) NS NS 9.67 NS Factor- B: P: Foliar application (FA) of 0 kg ha P2: FA of 5 kg ha P3: FA of 20 kg ha P4: Fertigation of WSPF P5: Soil application of SSP S.Em NA 0.0 CD (p= 0.05) 749 NS 0.02 T: IP T2: IP T3: IP T4: IP T5: IP T6: I2P T7: I2P T8: I2P T9: I2P T0: I2P S.Em NA 7.28 NA NA 0.0 CD (p= 0.05) NS NS 2.63 NS Note: WSPF= Water soluble phosphorus fertilizer, P= Phosphorus, SSP= Single super phosphate, for treatments P4 and P5= 75 kg ha - recommended dose of P fertilizer applied. Table 2: Effect of irrigation levels and phosphorus foliar nutrition on growth and yield parameters of maize under drip fertigation Treatments Plant height at harvest Number of leaves at 60 DAS LAI at 60 DAS Total dry matter accumulation at harvest (g plant - ) Root density (g cc - ) at 60 DAS Cob length Cob girth Number of kernels cob - Kernel weight cob - (g) Shelling percentage (%) I I S.Em CD (p=0.05) NS NS NS NS 0.6 NS NS NS NS NS P P P

4 P P S.Em CD (p=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS T: IP T2: IP T3: IP T4: IP T5: IP T6: I2P T7: I2P T8: I2P T9: I2P T0: I2P S.Em CD (p=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS 7.9 Treatment Table 3: Economics of maize as influenced by irrigation levels and foliar phosphorous nutrition under drip fertigation Cost of cultivation () Cost on irrigation/p management (2) Total cost of cultivation (Rs. ha - ) (3)=()+(2) ~ 987 ~ Gross returns (4) Net returns (5) =(4)-(3) Additional returns over 00% CPE or fertigation B:C Ratio (6)=(4)/(3) I I P P P P P T: IP T2: IP T3: IP T4: IP T5: IP T6: I2P T7: I2P T8: I2P T9: I2P T0: I2P Table 4: Soil chemical properties and nutrient status after harvest of maize as influenced by irrigation levels and foliar phosphorus nutrition under drip fertigation Treatments ph EC (dsm - ) OC (%) Nitrogen (kg ha - ) Phosphorus (kg ha - ) Potassium (kg ha - ) I I S.Em CD (p=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS P P P P P S.Em CD (p=0.05) NS NS NS NS 9.30 NS T: IP T2: IP T3: IP T4: IP T5: IP T6: I2P T7: I2P

5 T8: I2P T9: I2P T0: I2P S.Em CD (p=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS Conclusion From this study it can be inferred that, adoption of irrigation at 80 % CPE under drip in maize can produce higher kernel yield (5753 kg ha - ),stover yield (9642 kg ha - ), growth and yield parameters, WUE (24.45 kg ha-cm - ) and B:C ratio (2.00) similar to irrigation at 00% CPE. Whereas, foliar application of water soluble phosphorus fertilizer at 20 kg ha - produced higher kernel yield (5787 kg ha - ), stover yield (9722 kg ha - ),growth and yield parameters and B:C ratio (2.02) of maize similar to application of recommended dose (75kg ha - ) of P through fertigation or soil application of SSP. Further, FA of WSPF was considerably reduces the phosphorus soil buildup and losses from the soil. Therefore, adoption of irrigation at 80 % CPE can save irrigation water to the tune of.7% as compared to irrigation at 00% CPE. While, foliar application of water soluble phosphorus fertilizer at 20 kg ha - can save 73 % phosphorous fertilizer inputs as compared to application of recommended dose (75kg P 2O 5 ha - ) through fertigation or soil application of SSP in drip irrigated and fertigated maize. fertilizer levels and foliar nutrition under northern transition zone of Karnataka. M. Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Panse VG, Sukhatme PV. Statistical methods for agricultural workers. ICAR, Publ., New Delhi, 967, Piper CS. Soil Plant Analysis, Academic Press New York, 966, Subbaiah BV, Asija GL. A rapid procedure for the estimation of available nitrogen in sols. Current Science, 956; 25: Syers JK, Johnsandn AE, Curtis D. Efficiency of soil and fertilizer phosphorus use: Reconciling concepts of soil phosphorus behavior with agronomic information. Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition Bulletin, FAO, Vienna, Walkley A, Black CA. An examination of Degtareff method for determining soil organic matter and proposed modification of chromic and titration method. Soil Science. 934; 37:29-38 References. Aydinsakir K, Erdal S, Buyuktas D, Bastug R, Andker R. The influence of regular deficit irrigation applications on water use, yield and quality components of two corn (Zea mays L.) genotypes. Agriculture and Water Management. 20; 28: Girma K, Martin KL, Freeman KW, Mosali JT, Raun RK, Moges WR et al., Determination of the optimum rate and growth stage for foliar applied phosphorus in corn. Communincation Soil Science and Plant Analysis. 2004; 38: Honnappa, Studies on drip fertigation under different planting geometry in maize (Zea mays L.). M. Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Hussein MM, Pibars SK. Maize response to irrigation system, irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels in a sandy Soil.Journal of Applied Science and Research. 202; 8(8): Ibrahim MM, El-Baroudy AA, Taha AM. Irrigation and fertigation scheduling under drip irrigation for maize crop in sandy soil. International Agrophysics. 206; 30: Jackson ML. Soil Chemical Analysis, Prentice Hall of India Pvt. Ltd. New Delhi, 973, Mallesha. Effect of foliar application of watersoluble fertilizer on growth and yield of pigeonpea (cajanus cajan (l.) Millsp.). M. Sc. (Agri.) Thesis, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Mathukia RK, Gohil BS, Mathukia PR, Chhodavadia SK. Optimization of irrigation and fertilizer for sweet corn (Zea mays L. Var. Saccharata sturt) under climate change conditions. Innovare Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 20; 3(): Mosali J, Desta K, Teal RK, Freeman K, Martin KL, Lawles JW et al. Effect of foliar application of phosphorus on winter wheat grain yield, phosphorus uptake, and use Efficiency. Journal of Plant Nutrition. 200; 29: Naik MU. Performance of maize (Zea mays L.) and ~ 988 ~