Effect of Spatial Arrangements of Row Spacing and Plant Density on Water Use and Water Use Efficiency of Maize Under Irrigation

Abstract

To optimize crop water use and water use efficiency, more of the initial water resource should be routed into transpiration by reducing unproductive water losses such evaporation, drainage and runoff. In this context, a field experiment was conducted for two successive cropping seasons 2008/2009 to 2009/2010 at Kenilworth experimental station to evaluate the effect spatial arrangement of row spacings and plant density on yield and water use efficiency of maize. Three row spacing (0.225, 0.45 and 0.90 m) and five plant densities (50 000, 75 000, 100 000, 125 000 and 150 000 plants ha^-1) were used. Treatments were combined in a factorial combination and laid out in a completely randomized design with replications. Spatial arrangement of row spacing and plant density had a profound impact on biomass, grain yield, water use and WUE of maize. The current investigation revealed that highest water use and mean daily ET occurred at the plant density of 125 000 plants ha^-1. The interaction effect of row spacing by plant density was significant. The significantly highest biomass WUE was gained by the row spacing of 0.45 m with the plant density of 125 000 plants ha^-1. Correspondingly the highest grain yield WUE was obtained from a row spacing of 0.45 m and a plant density of 100 000 plants ha^-1. This was followed by a row spacing of 0.90 m at the same plant density and did not differ significantly from aforementioned. Based on this finding it could be concluded that a row spacing of 0.45 or 0.90 m with a plant density of 100 000 plants ha^-1 is the optimum to be adopted for the ultra-fast maize hybrid under consideration.

Keywords: Spatial arrangement, maize, water use, water use efficiency