Comparison of yield and water flow simulation, maize root uptake and pattern of maize root distribution in surface and subsurface drip irrigation systems and plastic mulch

The importance of roots and the pattern of water uptake from soil is one of the effective factors in the growth and development of crops. The distribution of roots in the soil is different under various agronomic conditions and the application of appropriate management will lead to increased water uptake by the roots and increase water use efficiency and ultimately crop yield. For this purpose, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of subsurface drip irrigation (Sb), surface drip irrigation (S) and surface drip irrigation with plastic mulch (Sm) which has been considered in limited studies, on water use efficiency, yield and simulation of water movement and root water uptake by HYDRUS-2D model and its characteristics was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replicated at Research Field of Agriculture Faculty of Urmia University in 2018-2019 growing season. Results showed that the treatment (Sm) and (S) had 36.6 tons per hectare and 2.1 kg per cubic meter, respectively. Also, the highest volume and weight of roots was obtained from treatment (S), respectively, 325.6 gr and 251.8 ml. Based on the simulations, it was found that changes in soil moisture in treatment (S) occurred more at the soil surface, but in treatment (Sb) these changes in soil depth and in treatment (Sm) at a certain depth that a small distance It can be seen from the surface of the soil.