Optimizing Irrigation Strategies to Improve Yield and Water Use Efficiency of Drip-Irrigated Maize in Southern Xinjiang
The contradiction between increased irrigation demand and water scarcity in arid regions has become more acute for crops as a result of global climate change. This highlights the urgent need to improve crop water use efficiency. In this study, four irrigation volumes were established for drip-irriga...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/24/3492 |
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| Summary: | The contradiction between increased irrigation demand and water scarcity in arid regions has become more acute for crops as a result of global climate change. This highlights the urgent need to improve crop water use efficiency. In this study, four irrigation volumes were established for drip-irrigated maize under plastic mulch: 2145 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> (W1), 2685 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> (W2), 3360 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> (W3), and 4200 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> (W4). The effects of these volumes on soil moisture, maize growth, water consumption, crop coefficients, and yield were analyzed. The results showed that increasing the irrigation volume led to a 2.86% to 8.71% increase in soil moisture content, a 24.56% to 47.41% increase in water consumption, and a 3.43% to 35% increase in the crop coefficient. Maize plant height increased by 16.34% to 42.38%, ear height by 16.85% to 51.01%, ear length by 2.43% to 28.13%, and yield by 16.96% to 39.24%. Additionally, soil temperature was reduced by 1.67% to 5.67%, and the maize bald tip length decreased by 6.62% to 48%. The irrigation water use efficiency improved by 6.57% to 28.89%. A comprehensive evaluation using the TOPSIS method demonstrated that 3360 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> of irrigation water was an effective irrigation strategy for increasing maize yield under drip irrigation with plastic mulch in the southern border area. Compared to 4200 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup>, this strategy saved 840 m<sup>3</sup> ha<sup>−1</sup> of irrigation water, increased the irrigation water use efficiency by 23.96%, and resulted in only a 0.84% decrease in yield. The findings of this study provide a theoretical foundation for optimizing production benefits in the context of limited water resources. |
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| ISSN: | 2223-7747 |