Performance of Maize Genotypes, Water Productivity (WP) by Aquacrop Model Under Modern irrigation systems and Drought

Abstract

Drought stress is one of the most harmful a biotic stress that occurs for several causes, including low humidity, salinity, heat stress, and light intensity, among others. Severe of  water stress in maize plants causes depression in yield and yield component. Drought stress reduces maize productivity by 15- 30%. The objective of this study was to select adequate irrigation with the greatest maize genotype efficiency to produce the highest possible yields per unit area and calibrate the water productivity by AquaCrop model. The present investigation was conducted at National Research Center, El-Noubaria Research Station El-Behaira Governorate. Sixteen cultivar maize genotypes under three water irrigation were chosen for this work. The crosses were evaluated in the 2017 and 2018 seasons under three water irrigation: 40% (m3/ha), 60% (m3/ha), and 80% (m3/ha) by using sprinkler irrigation. The results could be summarized that the three hybrids No.3, No.5 and No.6, should be recommended to maize breeding programs aiming at improving drought tolerance under corresponding drought stressed environments. The observed and simulated water productivity (WP) indicated that it is possible to obtain a high (WP), yielding and high yield component simultaneously by calibrated of the Aquacrop model, in spite of the positive correlation has been obtained in the review between observed and simulated (WP), grain yield and yield component, confirming the results.