Simulating the growth and yield of hybrid maize at various irrigation and nitrogen levels using CERES-maize model

Maize is a cereal crop that is grown widely throughout the world in a range of agro-ecological environments. All parts of the crop can be used for food and non-food products. It is largely used as a raw material for industrial products. Worldwide consumption of maize is more than 116 million tons. Maize yield depends mainly on nitrogen and water to achieve higher yields. To come to harvest quickly maize crop requires warm temperatures, rich soil and even regular watering. As we know water is becoming a limiting resource in coming days. So we must use water wisely. An experiment was conducted at the Water Management Research Centre (WMRC), Post Graduate Agricultural Research Station University of Agriculture Faisalabad for simulating the growth and yield of hybrid maize at various irrigation and nitrogen levels using CERES-Maize Model. Treatments were comprised of deficit irrigation levels (600 mm, 320 mm and 120 mm) and different nitrogen rates (150, 200, and 250 kg per ha). Randomized Complete Block Design under split plot procedure with three replications was used. The plot size was 7 m x 3.04 m. Now a day, different types of models are being used for crop production in agricultural sciences. Crop scientists are trying to recognize the problems about yield and trying to solve them by different modeling techniques. CERES-maize model under DSSAT plays a key role in simulating maize production. So this model is being used in this experiment. Fisher's analysis of variance method was used to analyze the collected data while treatments mean was compared by using Tuckey's HSD test at 5% probability level. The standard procedure was followed for data collection. Results showed that maximum leaf area index (5.07 cm-2) at irrigation level I1=600 mm), total dry matter (1612 g m-2 day-1) at I1=600 mm with 200 kg N per ha, plant height (178.65 cm) at full irrigation level (I1=600 mm), number of grains per cob (416) at I1=600 mm), 1000-grain weight (371.16 g) at I1=600 mm with 250 kg N per ha, grain yield (8.06 t per ha) at I1=600 mm with nitrogen 250 kg per ha, biological yield (17.2 t per ha) at irrigation level I1=600 mm with nitrogen level N3= 250 kg per ha and harvest index 52.02% at I1=600 mm with 250 kg N per ha were achieved.