Crop response of drought-tolerant and conventional maize hybrids in a semiarid environment

• Published in: Irrigation science Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 231 - 244
• Main Authors: Mounce, Ryan B, Susan A. O’Shaughnessy, Brock C. Blaser, Paul D. Colaizzi, Steven R. Evett
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.05.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Aquatic Pollution; biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change; Corn; Crop production; Crop yield; Crops; Drought; Drought resistance; drought tolerance; Environment; Feeds; Grain; grain yield; Grains; harvest index; Hybrids; Irrigation; irrigation rates; Irrigation water; Life Sciences; Livestock; Livestock feed; Livestock feeds; Maize; Original Paper; Plant tolerance; Semiarid environments; semiarid zones; Sustainable Development; Vegetables; Waste Water Technology; Water Industry/Water Technologies; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Water resources; Water supplies; Water supply; Water use; Water use efficiency; Zea mays; Irrigation Level; Irrigation Treatment; Corn Hybrid; Irrigation Amount; Treatment Plot
• ISSN: 0342-7188; 1432-1319
• DOI: 10.1007/s00271-016-0497-5

In the High Plains, corn (Zea mays L.) is an important commodity for livestock feed. However, limited water resources and drought conditions continue to hinder corn production. Drought-tolerant (DT) corn hybrids could help maintain high yields under water-limited conditions, though consistent response of such hybrids is unverified. In this two-year study, the effects of three irrigation treatments were investigated for a DT and conventional maize hybrid, Pioneer AQUAMax P0876HR and Pioneer 33Y75, respectively. In 2013, the drier of the 2 years, irrigation amounts and crop water use (ETc) were greater for the conventional hybrid, but grain water use efficiency (WUE) and harvest index were significantly greater for the DT hybrid. In 2014, grain yields and WUE were not significantly different between hybrids. However, irrigation amounts, ETc and biomass yields were greater for the conventional hybrid. Results from both years indicate that the DT hybrid required less water to maximize grain yield as compared to the conventional hybrid. Producing relatively high yields with reduced amounts of water may provide a means for producers to continue corn production in a semiarid environment with declining water supplies.