Effect of Nutrition Management and Application of Zeolite on Fertilizer Use Efficiency and Water Productivity in Two Maize Cultivars (Zea mays L.) under Deficit Irrigation Conditions

Abstract: To investigate the effect of nutrition management along with zeolite application on the fertilizer use efficiency and irrigation water productivity of two cultivars of maize under deficit irrigation conditions, a field experiment was carried out. The experiment was conducted at Soil and Water Research Institute, Karaj, Iran, in 2015 and 2016, in the form of a   factorial split plot layout based on a randomized complete block with three replications. Experimental treatments included: two levels of irrigation: full irrigation (I1) and low irrigation (70% full irrigation) (I2) as the main factor, and the factorial combination of fertilizer application at five levels; 1- conventional application of fertilizer (F1), 2- conventional application of fertilizer + 10 tons of zeolite per hectare from the source of clinoptilolite (F2), 3 - fertilizer application according to the recommended method (F3), 4. fertilizer application in the recommended method and 10 tons of zeolite per hectare from the source of clinoptilolite (F4), 5- control (without fertilizer) (F5) and maize cultivars: late maturity (Cross-704) (C1) and early maturity (C-Fajr) (C2) was considered as the sub-factor. The results showed that deficit irrigation reduced the grain yield of maize (17% and 20%, respectively, in Fajr and 704). The effect of fertilizer application on all plant traits was, therefore, significant in this study. Under deficit irrigation conditions, the highest grain yield of corn varieties was obtained from the recommended fertilizer application + zeolite (cultivars 704 and 260 produced 7934.3 and 7793.8 kg/ha, respectively), but it was decreased by 7% and 15%, respectively, as compared to the recommended application of fertilization + zeolite (cultivars 704 and 260 varieties produced 8180 and 9170.29 kg ha-1, respectively) under full irrigation condition. The results showed that using an appropriate fertilizer management with the consumption of 10 tons per hectare of zeolite, may lead to saving 30 percent in irrigation water consumption (about 2100 m3 per hectare) and obtaining good grain yield.