Evaluation of Irrigation Management for Maize Using the CROPWAT Model

Tarannum Yaismin¹ , Md. Billal Hossain Momen² , Md. Robiul Islam³

Section:Research Paper, Product Type: Journal-Paper
Vol.11 , Issue.3 , pp.33-40, Mar-2025

Online published on Mar 31, 2025

Copyright © Tarannum Yaismin, Md. Billal Hossain Momen, Md. Robiul Islam . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 

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Abstract :
This research investigates the effects of different irrigation levels on maize yield and quality, utilizing the CROPWAT 8.0 model, a decision support tool developed by the Land and Water Development Division of FAO for irrigation recommendations, conducted at Agronomy Field Laboratory at the department of Agronomy and Agricultural Extension in University of Rajshahi. The study evaluated two hybrid maize varieties, Bayer 8225 (V1) and Syngenta 7720 (V2), under four irrigation treatments: 1.25 Epan (T1), 1.00 Epan (T2), 0.75 Epan (T3), and 0.50 Epan (T4). Results demonstrated that T2, which applied 250 mm of water, closely aligned with the CROPWAT 8.0 model`s recommendation of 239.2 mm, yielding optimal outcomes in terms of cob length (15.23 cm), number of grains per (428.20), grain yield (11.10 t ha?¹), and protein content (10.75%). Treatment T1, although utilizing a higher water volume, did not show significant yield improvements compared to T2, indicating that excessive irrigation may not enhance productivity. The study underscores the importance of precise irrigation management for maximizing maize yield while promoting water efficiency. The findings highlight the CROPWAT 8.0 model`s effectiveness in guiding irrigation practices and suggest that balanced water application can lead to sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring resource conservation alongside improved crop performance. Future research should further explore irrigation strategies tailored to specific environmental conditions and crop varieties to enhance agricultural sustainability.

Key-Words / Index Term :
CROPWAT 8.0, Maize, Deficit Irrigation, Water Use Efficiency

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