Maize Yield as a Function of Water Availability across Precipitation Years in the North China Plain

Abstract

Crop water production functions require precise knowledge of crop productivity across a wide range of soil water availability (WA). Field studies have demonstrated the yield response of maize (Zea mays L.) to WA, but the relationship has not been quantified across various precipitation years in the North China Plain (NCP). This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the simulated interannual variability in precipitation on maize yield in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) –summer maize double‐cropping system in the NCP, in 2014 and 2015. A rainfall simulator system was used to simulate contrasting precipitation years, including wet, normal, normal‐dry, and dry years. A fixed amount of 70 mm irrigation was applied at different growth stages of maize, including at planting (I70), at planting and tasseling (VT) stages (I140), and at planting, VT, and milk stages (I210). The objective was to quantify the relationships among crop production, water use, and WA for maize. We found that I210 improved soil water storage (SWS, mm) by 19 to 36% in the midseason of normal‐dry and dry years but had no effect in normal and wet years, compared with I70. Crop evapotranspiration (ETc, mm d−1) was least in the dry year with the I70 treatment and differed with maize growth phases, with the peak occurring midseason for maize in both years. Regression analyses showed that ETc was negatively related to SWS but positively related to WA. A quadratic function described grain yield responses to WA and ETc, with total WA of 478 mm and daily mean ETc of 5.1 mm d−1 producing greatest grain yield. With yield response function acquired, we conclude that target maximum yield of 11.6 Mg ha−1 can be achieved after probability of exceedance of precipitation equals 18 with irrigation water requirement applied.

Effect of Surface Straw Incorporation Rate on Water–Salt Balance and Maize Yield in Soil Subject to Secondary Salinization with Brackish Water Irrigation

“…Moreover, the value of HI is highly dependent on the crop species and field management techniques [50,51], but such factors were controlled in the same condition for all lysimeters in our study. According to the mathematical regression results, the maximum values of the grain and biomass yield derived from the Richards function were at a reasonable level (around 6 t ha −1 for the grain yield and around 16 t ha −1 for the biomass), and the calculated yields were in an acceptable range considering the usual degree of variability of the field data [52]. It suggests that the Richard equation could be a practical way to describe the effect of the SIR on both the grain and biomass yield, since there must be an upper limit for yield production no matter how many favorable field measures are adopted.…”

Insentek Sensor: An Alternative to Estimate Daily Crop Evapotranspiration for Maize Plants

“…Maize is also known as one of the highest water-using crops in different regions [3,4]. Thanks to a continent monsoon climate, annual precipitation falls between 400 and 600 mm in the NCP, with 65% of precipitation occurring in maize seasons [5], while annual evapotranspiration ranges from 800 to 900 mm: 50-100% higher than precipitation [6]. For decades, crop water consumption has been being supplemented by extracting the declining groundwater in the NCP at a speed exceeding aquifer recharge [7].…”

“…In the equation, ETc stands for water loss from soil surface and plants whereas precipitation and irrigation represents water input. Water-saving strategies largely depend on the monitoring and controlling of ETc [5,6]. There are numerous methods available for estimating ETc [12][13][14][15], among which weighing lysimetry is normally used as a standard means [16].…”

Simulating Crop Evapotranspiration Using Insentek Soil Moisture for Maize Plants on Lysimeters

“…Regression between ET c and LAI demonstrated that there was no significant correlation between them. Previous studies determined the relationships between E/ET (ratio of soil evaporation to ET c ) and LAI, and some of them concluded a high correlation between them [7,8]. It is no surprising that LAI significantly influenced E/ET as E/ET was closely related to crop canopy coverage.…”