Author(s) :

Mubarak Lawal, Jamilu Suleiman, Mohammed M. Maina.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

A field experiment was conducted at the Irrigation Research Station, Kadawa in Kano River Irrigation Project, situated at latitude 11°30’N – 12°03’N and longitude 08° 30’E- 90°40’E within the Sudan Savannah zone of Nigeria; and at an altitude of 463 m above mean sea level, during 2013/2014 dry season (February to May) to evaluate the effect of deficit irrigation on yield and optimal water requirement for maize crop (Zea Mays L.; SAMMAZ 29) under different irrigation scheduling using furrow irrigation. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used and the experiment consisted of three levels of irrigation water application depth of 100%, 75% and 50% replacement of Total Available Water Capacity (TAWC) and three irrigation intervals of 7, 10 and 13 days replicated three times. Irrigation water was applied into each of 0.75 m X 90 m furrow using siphon tube of 7.5 cm diameter and 200 cm length while the soil moisture was monitored using soil moisture meter PMS-714 through an effective root zone depth of 75 cm at intervals of 0-20 cm, 20- 40 cm and 40-75cm. The results showed that, highest average seasonal water use were at I7D100% with 485.8 mm and 681.8 mm respectively while the least were at I13D50% with 205.0 mm and 290.0 mm respectively. The highest average maize yield was at I7D100% with 3580 kg/ha while the least was at I13D50% with 1200 kg/ha. The study established a reduction of total irrigation water of 329 mm using 10 days irrigation interval at 75% Eta under furrow irrigation method for optimum yield of 2500 kg/ha, which is economically comparable to the yield at full irrigation (D100%). It recorded an optimal water application of 668.4 mm for an optimum yield of 3710 kg/ha. This optimal water usage saved cost and also helps to address the problem of high water table of the study area.

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