Combined Effect of Tape Drip Irrigation System Looping and Magnetic Water on Hydraulic Performance of Irrigation System and Water Use Efficiency in Maize

In this research, the effect of forming a loop layout by connecting the lateral ends in a tape irrigation system and magnetic water on yield and water use efficiency of maize cv. Maxima was investigated. The research was done as split plots on completely randomized blocks in three replications. Tube wires and an AC to DC converter were used to create a magnetic field. Maize water requirement was calculated using real-time meteorological parameters data of Zanjan synoptic station and FAO-56 method. Results showed loop connection compared with no-loop increased means of the system discharge by 13%, decreased coefficient of variation by 1.98%, and increased emission uniformity and Christiansen’s Uniformity coefficient by 2.2 and 1.5% (respectively). Magnetic water increased the means of the system discharge by 4.2% and decreased the coefficient of variation by 0.98% compared with no-magnetic water. Results of the measured plant traits showed that, compared with the conventional layout of the system, looping of the irrigation system increased means of the fresh plant weight, water use efficiency based on fresh plant weight, plant dry weight, and stem diameter by 27, 27, 32, and 13% respectively. Compared with non-magnetic water irrigation, magnetic water irrigation increased means of the fresh plant weight, water use efficiency based on fresh plant weight, plant dry weight, and leaf area by 9, 9.5, 1.4, and 17% respectively.