EddyPro checks for signal quality and gas analyzer signal strength (which depends on the cleanliness of sensor optical windows and/or presence or absence of rain drops/fog in the measuring volume). A missing samples allowance of 10% was set for the raw data in the flux averaging intervals and linear interpolation of the data is done by Eddy pro within this limit. The effect of wind blowing normal to the sonic path on the speed of sound (sonic temperature) is corrected for in the CSAT3 firmware(CSAT3 3-D Sonic Anemometer Instruction Manual). Other corrections are as follows.

Agriculture in a water-limited environment is critically important for today and for the future. This research evaluates the impact of deficit irrigation in different planting methods on the physio-morphological traits, grain yield and WUE of maize (Zea mays L.). The experiment was carried out in 2015 and 2016, consisting of three planting methods (i.e., BBF, SNF, and DWF) and four irrigation levels (i.e., I10D: irrigation once in ten days, I40: irrigation at 40% DASM, I50: irrigation at 50% DASM, and I60: irrigation at 60% DASM). The results reveal that varying degrees of water stress due to planting methods and irrigation levels greatly influenced the maize physio-morphological traits and yield attributes. The combined effect of DWF + I50 benefited the maize in terms of higher leaf area, RWC, SPAD values, CGR, and LAD, followed by the SNF method at 60 DAS. As a result, DWF + I50 and SNF + I50 had higher 100 grain weight (30.5 to 31.8 g), cob weight (181.4 to 189.6 g cob−1) and grain yield (35.3% to 36.4%) compared to other treatments. However, the reduction in the number of irrigations (24.0%) under SNF + I50 resulted in a 34% water saving. Thus, under a water-limited situation in semi-arid tropics, the practice of the SNF method + I50 could be an alternative way to explore the physio-morphological benefits in maize.

No abstract

Assessing the impact of planting methods and irrigation levels is needed to determine the effects on maize root morphological traits, grain yield, and water productivity in semi-arid regions. A study was initiated on maize (Zea mays L.) from 2015 to 2016, including three planting methods [i.e. broad bed and furrow (BBF), shallow and narrow furrow (SNF) and deep and wider furrow (DWF)] and four irrigation levels [i.e. irrigation once in ten days (I10D), irrigation at 40% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM, I40), irrigation at 50% DASM (I50) and irrigation at 60% DASM (I60)] arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. Results reveal that the DWF method has increased root length, root volume, root surface area and root dry weight compared to SNF and BBF (p < 0.05). DWF and SNF resulted in higher grain yield than BBF, although the DWF grain yield was non-significant with SNF but resulted in 22.40% higher irrigation application. Irrigation at I50 had a significant effect on root length, root surface area, and grain yield, regardless of planting methods. Therefore, where irrigation has been a costly and limited farm input, the practice of SNF and deficit irrigation (I50) could be a viable option for greater water saving and higher grain yields of maize.

The main aim of land configurations is in situ conservation of soil moisture by increasing the opportunity time for augmented water use efficiency and drain out excess water. The field study was conducted for two years under rainfed conditions of Dharwad on residual soil moisture and fertility. Cowpea produced higher grain yield (13.4 q ha -1 ), haulm yield (25.6 q ha -1 ) and harvest index (34.4 %) with Broad Bed and Furrow (BBF) method of planting. Similarly, BBF method resulted in higher soil moisture content (32.09 % at 40 DAS) and rain water use efficiency (RWUE) of 5.96 kg ha-mm -1 . The RWUE had a significant and highly positive correlation with soil moisture at 40 and 55 DAS (with r value of r=0.94** and r=0.96**, respectively). BBF method of planting also registered higher gross return (Rs.42725 ha -1 ), net return (¹ 27515 ha -1 ) and benefit-cost ratio (2.82). Cowpea can be grown successfully after summer maize on existing BBF configuration for higher yield and rain water use efficiency.