Influence of Irrigation Scheduling Tools on Water Use and Yield of Corn Under Different Soil Texture Conditions

About 70% of irrigation water is taken from groundwater resources in Fars province، Iran. Water use management could have a significant role in an efficient water use and increase the water productivity. There are some instruments for irrigation management، which we have few information about their performance in Iran. In the present study، the performance of some irrigation management tools، in two maize farms is evaluated. The farm located on Sheshdeh-Gharebolagh plain in Fars province، and the farm was irrigated using drip irrigation system. Irrigation water was scheduled using tensiometer، infrared thermometer، gypsum block، soil moisture meter and the national water requirement document. The irrigation water applied by the farmer was also measured. Results showed that the irrigation scheduling tools can reduce the farmer applied irrigation water about 35%. The yield was not significantly affected by the irrigation scheduling treatments. The water use efficiency increased about 47% comparing with the control farmer management. The best irrigation management tool was gypsum block.