Effect of Saline Water and Nitrogen Fertilization on Maize Production under Drip Irrigation
2001
Ibrahim, M.
The experiment was performed in the greenhouse of the IAM-Bari; the corn crop was grown with four water salinity levels (fresh water as control, water of 3, 6 and 9 dS/m) and four nitrogen levels (no fertilizer, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha). The work was divided into three parts. The first analyses the irrigation system to identify the suitability of the system (distribution uniformity, clogging ratio for drippers and relation between them and salt distribution). The second one is aimed to asses the salt tolerance degree of maize and its response to nitrogen fertigation; to this purpose several plant parameters were analysed. The third analysis made use of N15 isotope, to identify the Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE) by calculating the nitrogen derived to the plant from the fertilizer and that from the soil. The results obtained show the suitability of drip irrigation to distribute the fertilizer and for using marginal water. The depression in fertilizer use efficiency under high salinity levels and N rate (150 Kg N/ha) confirmed the fact that high levels of added N may be harmful to maize plants. The key to the effective use of saline irrigation waters and salinity control is to provide the proper amount of water to the plant at the proper time (irrigation scheduling) with the correct amount of N-fertilizer
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