Vol. 11, Issue 11 (2022)

Author(s):
R Rajavarthini and D Kalyanasundaram

Abstract:
One of the most critical inputs in crop production is water. Water for irrigation is currently getting more expensive for crop production due to the depletion of surface and subsurface water supplies caused by unpredictable and unequal distribution of rainfall. To overcome this crisis, farmers carefully monitor the weather forecast and adjust their irrigation schedule according to the current situation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the irrigation management and other agronomic practices in growth and yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L). The study was conducted under field conditions in Chinnakandiyankuppam village, Vriddhachalam Taluk, in the North-Eastern region of Tamil Nadu state, India between December 2020 to March 2021. Three irrigation practices in main plot (M₁ - Irrigation during critical stages of crop growth, M₂ - Tensiometer based irrigation and M₃ - Normal irrigation (Farmer’s practice) were combined with four treatments in sub-plots (S₁ - Seed hardening with 1% KH₂PO₄, S₂ - Soil application of hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 before sowing, S₃ - Foliar application of triacontanol @ 10 ppm on 20 and 35 DAS, S₄ - Foliar application of humic acid @ 450 ppm on 30 and 45 DAS) and was set up in a split plot layout and replicated thrice. Tensiometer based irrigation along with soil application of hydrogel @ 2.5 kg ha^-1 (M₂S₂) was the most efficient irrigation and other agronomic practices for growth attributes, yield and yield attributes and nutrient uptake for the hybrid maize under irrigated condition of North - Eastern zone of Tamil Nadu State, India.