Using the modern irrigation systems lead to water lost decrease, controlling
the quantity and increase crop productivity. The current study aims to evaluate the
surface, improved surface and drip irrigation systems to rationalize maize irrigation
water in soils. Field experiments were conducted in Sanores District, Fayoum
Governorate. The treatments include three irrigation systems (surface, improved
surface and drip), three deficit irrigation treatments (100%, 80% and 60% of ETc)
and three soil plastic mulching treatments (without, white plastic and black plastic).
All treatments were combined in the complete randomized blocks design (spilt –spilt
plot) with three replicates. Maize (Zea mays L, variety 321) was planted during two
summer seasons (2017 and 2018). Class A Pan was used for estimating the daily
ETo values to determine the intervals between irrigation treatments. Disturbed and
undisturbed soil samples were collected from the experimental field before
conducting such treatments. Measurements of maize growth parameters and yield
were carried. Some crop water relations of maize were determined. Statistical
analysis for the obtained data was performed.
Results indicated that the highest values of plant height, cobs No. per plant,
cob weight, number of rows per cob, weight of 100 grains and grains yield of maize
were coincided with improved surface irrigation system, irrigation treatment (80%
of ETc) and black plastic mulching. Also, the highest value of forage weight of
maize was recorded with surface irrigation system, irrigation treatment (100% of
ETc) and soil black plastic mulching. The mean values of the water consumptive use
of maize plants were significantly decreased by 31.26 and 12.10% under drip < br />irrigation compared with surface and improved surface irrigation systems. The mean
values of water productivity of maize crop significantly increased by 27.13 and
3.88% under drip irrigation compared with surface and improved surface irrigation
systems, respectively. It could be concluded that improved surface irrigation system,
irrigation treatment (80% of ETc) and black plastic mulching saved about 20% of
the applied irrigation water (about 965 m3
ha-1
), as well as, the highest grains yield
of maize plants in clayey soils under Fayoum conditions.