Modest Irrigation Frequency Improves Maize Water Use Efficiency and Influences Trait Expression

Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira (), Arona Figueroa Pires, André Pereira, Pedro Mendes-Moreira and Matthew Tom Harrison
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Carla Sofia Santos Ferreira: Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Applied Research Institute, Rua da Misericórdia, Lagar dos Cortiços—S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal
Arona Figueroa Pires: Research Centre for Natural Resources Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal
André Pereira: Research Centre for Natural Resources Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal
Pedro Mendes-Moreira: Research Centre for Natural Resources Environment and Society (CERNAS), Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Bencanta, 3045-601 Coimbra, Portugal
Matthew Tom Harrison: Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, University of Tasmania, Newnham Drive, Launceston, TAS 7248, Australia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-19

Abstract: While irrigation is generally required for most summer crops in the Mediterranean region, increasingly scarce water supplies are leading to a demand for more efficient irrigation infrastructure. Here, we assess how three irrigation volumes—100 mm/week (simulating excess water), 55 mm twice per week (moderate supply), and a variable amount adjusted on a weekly basis according to crop water demand (AMP) applied once or twice weekly via drip irrigation—impacted the growth, yield, and ear traits of a local maize variety under low-input farming in central Portugal. We found that irrigation management significantly influenced grain yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), with the 55 mm treatment applied twice weekly achieving the highest yield (3504 kg ha −1 ) and IWUE (7.2 kg ha −1 mm −1 ). The highest irrigation treatment (100 mm/weekly) impaired yield (996 kg ha −1 and 1973 kg ha −1 , when water was applied in one or two events), likely due to nutrient leaching, and resulted in the lowest IWRU (1.2 kg ha −1 mm −1 and 2.5 kg ha −1 mm −1 , respectively). Biweekly applications tended to increase crop height. Irrigation rate and frequency significantly affected kernel number and size, but not total ear weight or cob-to-ear weight ratio. These findings highlight the importance of irrigation frequency based on crop water demand over blanket approaches based on volume alone.

Keywords: maize landrace; irrigation volume; irrigation scheduling; yields; ear traits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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