Can i adopt drip irrigation technology in maize crop in integration with my research on "date of sowing" in the eastern ghat region ?

Drip irrigation can be well adapted to give the high yield estimates on maize fields or plots. Usually water application is done based on the perceived need. The need for maize irrigation will vary according to the evaporation transpiration values reaching a peak need at full flowering and early seed fill. The timing of the irrigation can be established using tension meters which will indicate when an insufficient soil water level is approaching. Generally the equivalent of about 4 to 7 cm will be applied in each irrigation. The irrigation by the drip system can alleviate the issues of irrigation stimulating water related disease issues another advantage is the fertility needs can be applied effectively with modest lable through the drip irrigation system. Suggest you give search maize drip irrigation methods to get the particulars you will need for your work.

Date of sowing of maize is a good research topic where water is mostly not controlled by the researcher. Recommendation can be given in two season's cropping based on rainfall pattern in the study area and the amount of rain that falls during the period of the work. But if drip irrigation is applied timing might not be a serious factor as water supplied to the crops is regulated and controlled. Maximum yield can be obtained using drip irrigation but in terms of timing, additional factors needs to be taken into consideration before recommendation.

Thank you.

Drip Irrigation can give high yield and high profit. It can save 40-60 per cent water.

Yes, you can. You have to maintain spacing as per your emitter distance in inline drip. Further, you can save water by 30% approx by adopting drip irrigation in maize.

Sameer Mahapatro You can use drip irrigation effectively for your research on maize as a test crop only if you are going for maize cultivation in dry season i.e. either rabi or zaid crop. In both these cases your sowing time will be effective because of temperature variation during different phenophages and you can easily control your drip and use it as irrigation scheduling aspect and you can also calculate water productivity.

Please:

1. Determine full irrigation and/or deficit irrigation treatments or conditions.

2. Determine maize daily and monthly water requirement under climate conditions.

3. Select dipper size and numbers to meet crop water requirement.

4. Measure applied water for each irrigation event to grow crop.

5. Estimate water productivity via applied water and crop yield.

Thank you sir for you detailed guidance

Yes you can.

I would suggest using an elevated bank for the planting system. Under your environment the raised bed and have a twin row system split the twin row with a drip line good results are found with mulch. The use of evaporation and osmotic pressure readings can be used to optimize the irrigation.

Thank you

@Sameer, you can. In case of maize plant to plant spacing is maintained @ 20-25cm. But inline drip emitter gap is 30cm. You have to look into it. In that case emitter with higher discharge (2-4 LPH) may be considered.

It would be great if skipped row planting of maize can be followed under drip irrigation.

The efficiency can be raised with optimized availability of mositure certainly.

You can use drip irrigation in maize. You can club date of sowing and drip irrigation if the sowing window is wider and crop experiences different weather condition. Raised wide bed paired row sowing can help in cost saving on drip lines. One drip line can be placed between two lines.