Work

Optimizing irrigation management: evaluating silage maize water requirements using soil moisture monitoring

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Proper irrigation planning conserves water, reduces deep percolation losses, and improves water efficiency. This study evaluated the water needs of silage maize (ZP 606) using a method for monitoring soil moisture in Pishva, Varamin (in 2019) with a split-strip plot design and three replications. The primary factor included three irrigation levels: 120%, 100%, and 80% of crop water requirement (I 2 , I 1 , and I 3 ), while the secondary factor comprised pulse (P) and continuous (C) irrigation management. Actual evapotranspiration (ET a ) was measured using the soil water balance method. It was 364 mm (pulse) and 341 mm (continuous) under full irrigation, 348 mm and 336 mm under deficit irrigation, and 383 mm and 352 mm under over-irrigation. FAO-56 estimated ET c at 400 mm, about 13.5% higher than the observed ET a under full irrigation. When compared to continuous irrigation under over-irrigation conditions, pulse irrigation decreased deep percolation by around 30%. According to the results, pulse irrigation reduces deep percolation losses and improves water use efficiency. Furthermore, local adjustments are necessary for FAO-56 estimations to produce more realistic forecasts.

Source: Discover Agriculture

DOI: 10.1007/s44279-025-00279-4

Author: Iman Hajirad

Institution: University of Tehran

Language: English

Topic: Irrigation Practices and Water Management

Subfield: Soil Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Zero hunger, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,340