Chilundo, Mario
- Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM)
Abstract
Quantification of the interactive effects of irrigation water and nitrogen (N) fertiliser on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) provides an important insight for more effective water and N management. This study evaluated the effects of different irrigation and N fertiliser management options on water flux, N uptake, NUE and maize grain yield in a semi-arid loamy sand, in Mozambique. The experiments were carried out in field plots in two consecutive cropping periods (CP's) representing contrasting growing seasons: a hot-wet season (CP-1) and a cold-dry season (CP-2). The treatments included two irrigation methods (furrow and drip), two irrigation levels (75 and 100% of the crop water requirement), and two distinct N fertiliser types (a quick-release and slow-release urea) arranged in a randomised complete block design. In both CP-1 and CP-2, NUE tended to be higher for the 75% irrigation level, regardless of irrigation method and N fertiliser type. Higher NUE was generally observed in CP-2 than in CP-1. The highest grain NUE (41.6 kg kg(-1) N) was observed in CP-2 under furrow irrigation combined with 75% irrigation level and quick-release N fertiliser. Slow-release N fertiliser did not improve N uptake, NUE or maize yield. Potential N losses were assumed to be higher in CP-1 than in CP-2, associated with higher estimated deep percolation volumes in CP-1 (mean 127 mm) than in CP-2 (mean 12 mm). In CP-1, deep percolation events mainly coincided with high rainfall events. Furrow irrigation tended to give higher NUE than drip irrigation, especially in CP-2. Reducing of irrigation level by 25% tended to increase N uptake, NUE and maize yield for both CP-1 and CP-2. The effects of slow-release N fertiliser and drip irrigation were inconclusive. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords
Irrigation method; Nitrogen fertiliser; Maize; Mozambique; Water balance
Published in
Agricultural Water Management
2016, volume: 168, pages: 68–77
SLU Authors
Joel, Abraham
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Wesström, Ingrid
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Messing, Ingmar
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
UKÄ Subject classification
Environmental Management
Environmental Sciences
Agricultural Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2016.02.004
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/69986