Effect of Water stress and Aquasorb 3005 super absorbent application on maize yield production in trickle irrigation system

Water scarcity is the most important factor limiting the production of agricultural products, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. Application of some materials such as superabsorbent polymers in soil increases water retention in soil and thus reduces water consumption and fertilizer leaching. These materials can reduce the effects of dehydration on the plant and lead to increased yield in arid and semi-arid regions. In order to investigate the effect of superabsorbent under water stress conditions on yield, yield components and some physiological characteristics of corn, experimental plots were conducted in the form of split plots in a randomized complete block design in Gotvand region in Khuzestan province. Three treatments of Aquasorb 3005 (600,300,0 kg / ha) A1, A2 and A3 and four irrigation strategies (50,75,100,125) percent of water requirement I1, I2, I3 and I4 in three replications for two growing seasons, respectively Summer 2019 and spring planting 2020) were considered. Irrigation planning, biological yield, harvest index and canopy cover were measured at different stages of growth seasons, based on which a growth simulation model was presented using AquaCrop software. The results of this test showed that the use of Aquasorb 3005 increased product performance by one percent. In addition, the results show the effect of superabsorbent application and irrigation planning on improving water efficiency. The highest grain yield in spring and summer cultivation was related to I2A3 treatment equal to 9055 and 9255 kg / ha, respectively, and the lowest yield in both crops was related to I4A0 treatment equal to 5977 kg / ha in spring cultivation and 6344 kg / ha in summer cultivation.