Maize response to coupled irrigation and nitrogen fertilization under center pivot, subsurface drip and surface (furrow) irrigation: Soil-water dynamics and crop evapotranspiration

Determination of crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and root zone soil-water dynamics/distribution coupled with nitrogen (N) management strategies is important for effective management of agricultural fields for enhancing production efficiency. However, limited data and knowledge exist that sufficiently inform how soil-water dynamics and ETc response may vary with coupled irrigation levels and different N application timings under different irrigation methods. Extensive field experiments were conducted in 2016 and 2017 under center pivot (CP), subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), and furrow irrigation (FI) at full irrigation treatment (FIT), 80% FIT, 60% FIT, and rainfed treatment (RFT) with N application timing treatments of traditional N (TN), non-traditional-1 (NT-1), and non-traditional-2 (NT-2) to quantify and compare seasonal maize (Zea mays L.) grain yield, soil-water dynamics, ETc, and ETc vs. seasonal irrigation and total water supply relationships. Soil-water status and plant water extraction exhibited substantial differences between the irrigation levels and N management and with the irrigation methods. Irrigation method significantly (p FI>SDI.