Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate

Drip-irrigation is increasingly applied in maize (Zea mays L.) production in sub-humid region. It is critical to quantify irrigation requirements during different growth stages under diverse climatic conditions. In this study, the Hybrid-Maize model was calibrated and applied in a sub-humid Heilongj...

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Main Authors: Yang LIU, Hai-shun YANG, Jiu-sheng LI, Yan-feng LI, Hai-jun YAN
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2018-03-01
Series:Journal of Integrative Agriculture
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311917618331
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author Yang LIU
Hai-shun YANG
Jiu-sheng LI
Yan-feng LI
Hai-jun YAN
author_facet Yang LIU
Hai-shun YANG
Jiu-sheng LI
Yan-feng LI
Hai-jun YAN
author_sort Yang LIU
collection DOAJ
description Drip-irrigation is increasingly applied in maize (Zea mays L.) production in sub-humid region. It is critical to quantify irrigation requirements during different growth stages under diverse climatic conditions. In this study, the Hybrid-Maize model was calibrated and applied in a sub-humid Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China to estimate irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize during different crop physiological development stages and under diverse agro-climatic conditions. Using dimensionless scales, the whole growing season of maize was divided into diverse development stages from planting to maturity. Drip-irrigation dates and irrigation amounts in each irrigation event were simulated and summarized in 30-year simulation from 1981 to 2010. The maize harvest area of Heilongjiang Province was divided into 10 agro-climatic zones based on growing degree days, arid index, and temperature seasonality. The simulated results indicated that seasonal irrigation requirements and water stress during different growth stages were highly related to initial soil water content and distribution of seasonal precipitation. In the experimental site, the average irrigation amounts and times ranged from 48 to 150 mm with initial soil water content decreasing from 100 to 20% of the maximum soil available water. Additionally, the earliest drip-irrigation event might occur during 3- to 8-leaf stage. The water stress could occur at any growth stages of maize, even in wet years with abundant total seasonal rainfall but poor distribution. And over 50% of grain yield loss could be caused by extended water stress during the kernel setting window and grain filling period. It is estimated that more than 94% of the maize harvested area in Heilongjiang Province needs to be irrigated although the yield increase varied (0 to 109%) in diverse agro-climatic zones. Consequently, at least 14% of more maize production could be achieved through drip-irrigation systems in Heilongjiang Province compared to rainfed conditions.
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institution Kabale University
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publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
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spelling doaj-art-8d001399c7d549cf8793fa2d2d51dc812025-08-20T03:56:55ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Integrative Agriculture2095-31192018-03-0117367769210.1016/S2095-3119(17)61833-1Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climateYang LIU0Hai-shun YANG1Jiu-sheng LI2Yan-feng LI3Hai-jun YAN4College of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, P.R.China; State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, P.R.China; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln 68503, United States; LIU YangDepartment of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln 68503, United StatesState Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, P.R.China; Correspondence LI Jiu-sheng, Tel: +86-10-68786545State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100048, P.R.ChinaCollege of Water Resources and Civil Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, P.R.China; Correspondence YAN Hai-jun, Tel: +86-10-62737196Drip-irrigation is increasingly applied in maize (Zea mays L.) production in sub-humid region. It is critical to quantify irrigation requirements during different growth stages under diverse climatic conditions. In this study, the Hybrid-Maize model was calibrated and applied in a sub-humid Heilongjiang Province in Northeast China to estimate irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize during different crop physiological development stages and under diverse agro-climatic conditions. Using dimensionless scales, the whole growing season of maize was divided into diverse development stages from planting to maturity. Drip-irrigation dates and irrigation amounts in each irrigation event were simulated and summarized in 30-year simulation from 1981 to 2010. The maize harvest area of Heilongjiang Province was divided into 10 agro-climatic zones based on growing degree days, arid index, and temperature seasonality. The simulated results indicated that seasonal irrigation requirements and water stress during different growth stages were highly related to initial soil water content and distribution of seasonal precipitation. In the experimental site, the average irrigation amounts and times ranged from 48 to 150 mm with initial soil water content decreasing from 100 to 20% of the maximum soil available water. Additionally, the earliest drip-irrigation event might occur during 3- to 8-leaf stage. The water stress could occur at any growth stages of maize, even in wet years with abundant total seasonal rainfall but poor distribution. And over 50% of grain yield loss could be caused by extended water stress during the kernel setting window and grain filling period. It is estimated that more than 94% of the maize harvested area in Heilongjiang Province needs to be irrigated although the yield increase varied (0 to 109%) in diverse agro-climatic zones. Consequently, at least 14% of more maize production could be achieved through drip-irrigation systems in Heilongjiang Province compared to rainfed conditions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311917618331drip irrigationirrigation requirementsmaizeagro-climatic regionlizationcrop simulationsub-humid climate
spellingShingle Yang LIU
Hai-shun YANG
Jiu-sheng LI
Yan-feng LI
Hai-jun YAN
Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate
Journal of Integrative Agriculture
drip irrigation
irrigation requirements
maize
agro-climatic regionlization
crop simulation
sub-humid climate
title Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate
title_full Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate
title_fullStr Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate
title_short Estimation of irrigation requirements for drip-irrigated maize in a sub-humid climate
title_sort estimation of irrigation requirements for drip irrigated maize in a sub humid climate
topic drip irrigation
irrigation requirements
maize
agro-climatic regionlization
crop simulation
sub-humid climate
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095311917618331
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AT jiushengli estimationofirrigationrequirementsfordripirrigatedmaizeinasubhumidclimate
AT yanfengli estimationofirrigationrequirementsfordripirrigatedmaizeinasubhumidclimate
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