Effect of Irrigation Method and Tillage Level on Water Use Efficiency and Corn Grain Yield (Zea Mays L.) in Kerman

Cultivation of two crops in one year may lead to time limitation for seedbed preparation of the second crop and inadequacy of organic material. These are some of Kerman province agricultural problems. In addition، regarding to the limited water resources and recent droughts use of proper irrigation methods with tillage management methods can reduce destruction of agricultural lands and increase sustainability of agriculture. For this purpose، an experiment using a split plot in randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) with four replications was conducted at Kerman agricultural research center. Tillage systems consisted of conventional tillage (CT)، reduced tillage (RT) and no tillage (NT) were the major treatments and two irrigation methods (furrow (FI) and tape irrigation (TI)) were the sub plots. The results of this research showed: tillage and irrigation treatments had significant effect on corn yield at PV= 1 % and interaction of these treatments had significant effect at PV= 5% on corn yield. RT treatment produced the maximum yield (9835 kg/ha). CT and RT treatments did not show any significant difference. Corn yield under tape irrigation was 9% more than that of furrow irrigation. By furrow and tape irrigation treatments 13850 and 7350 m3/ha water were used respectively. So treatment of TI with NT treatment had the maximum Water Use Efficiency (1. 4 kg/m3) based. On the results، tape irrigation caused 40% water saving. Regarding to the results RT with TI system is recommended at the study area.