the effects of deficit irrigation on water use efficiency of new early maize variety (cn. ksc.302) using sprinkler system

abstract in order to evaluate the effects of different depths of irrigation by sprinkler irrigation system on water use efficiency (wue) of new early maize cultivar ksc302, an experiments was carried out in karj during 2006 and 2007. experimental design was split plot based on randomized complete blocks with three replications. main plots were three irrigation levels: 75%, 100% and 125% etc (estimating by penman monteith model) and sub plots were three plants densities: 80000, 90000 and 100000 plants per hectare. the results showed that increasing in the levels of irrigation from 75% etc to 125% etc, has a significant effect on yield. yield increase in 125% etc treatment indicated that water requirement has not fully supplied in 100% etc treatment, and the effect of deficit irrigation was intensified in 75% etc treatment. maximum maize wue was (1.159 and 1.044 kg m-3) for 100% etc treatment in the first and second years, respectively. maize wue of 1.1 kg m-3 was recommended as optimum level to be considered in cropping system for karaj. applied irrigation depth for optimum level of maize wue was 900 mm.