Gravity drip irrigation and nitrogen management on yield and water productivity of sweet corn

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2015-16 on a sandy loam soil to assess four levels of irrigation (gravity drip irrigation at 1.0, 0.8 and 0.6 ETc and surface irrigation) and nitrogen management practices (100% N as fertilizer, 75% N as fertilizer + 25% N as vermicompost, 75% N as fertilizer + 25% N as FYM and 75% N as fertilizer + 25% N as mustard oil cake) on sweet corn. The results of the study showed that surface irrigation recorded the maximum plant growth, yield attributes, cob and fodder yields which were competitive with drip irrigation at 1.0 ETc. Higher plant variables, cob and fodder yields was noticed with 75% N as fertilizer plus 25% N as vermicompost. However, conventional surface irrigation with 75% N as fertilizer + 25% N as vermicompost showed maximum growth, yield attributes, cob and fodder yields which being identical with drip irrigation at 1.0 ETc with 75% N as fertilizer + 25% N as vermicompost. Maximum water productivity was obtained with drip irrigation at 0.6 ETc with 75% N as fertilizer + 25% N as vermicompost. The maximum cob yield was predicted as 7.35 t/ha with 200 mm water application.