Analysis of Crop Water Requirement for Maize with Planting Hole System under Dry Climate Condition

Abstract

Crop water requirement is an important factor to increase water use efficiency and avoid crop failure in dryland. A way to increase water use efficiency is by determining an irrigation interval scenario and utilizing a planting hole system. Research on the analysis of water requirement in the planting hole system with an irrigation interval for maize is still limited. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the level of water requirement for maize in dryland. This research was conducted in Camplong Village, Kupang District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) from January-May 2020. The design used was a split-plot of various treatments. There were three different techniques of applying fertilizer as the main plot, and two treatments of pruning maize leaves as sub-plots. The different treatments of fertilizer application includes: 1) mixing manure with rice husk charcoal (Ls+As), 2) separating manure from rice husk charcoal (Ls/As), 3) no addition of manure or rice husk charcoal into the planting hole (control). The sub-plots were divided into 2 treatments namely with leaf pruning (P) and without leaf pruning (TP). The water requirement was analyzed based on the FAO 56 approach with the production calculation in weight unit of tiles (ubinan). The results showed that 75% water efficiency was achieved or there was a water saving of 3,119 m3/ha/planting season when compared to conventional techniques. The highest maize productivity (7 tons/ha) was attained in treatment of mixing manure with rice husk charcoal with leaf pruning. The result indicated that this water savings may be used to expand the planting area to 3 ha.

Determination of water availability and long growth period of maize plant in Boalemo Regency, Indonesia

“…The report of [13] found that maize plants needed 304 mm of water, and the irrigation water required was 288.2 mm. Furthermore, the water requirement for corn plants for 90 days was 312 mm [19]. Based on climate stations, the number of LGP can be presented in the following pattern: Saritani climate station > Bubaa climate station > Tangkobu climate station.…”

“…According to [12], LGP greatly determines the dry land cropping pattern, which was entirely analyzed by the water availability for the plant. The germination and emergence periods, vegetative growth, reproductive development, and kernel development were 20 days, 30 days, 30 days, and 10 days, hence, LGP of maize plants was 90 days [19]. The number of LGP at Bubaa was 214 days, or according to [7], it was included in PI class 2 at LGP 170-300 days.…”