Offsetting land degradation through nitrogen and water management during maize cultivation under arid conditions

Abstract

The best management of soil, irrigation, and crop nutrients is among major components of sustainable agriculture that reduces groundwater contamination, prevents soil degradation, and guarantees the best resource use efficiency. Trials were conducted to optimize maize (Zea mays L.) yield by experimenting various irrigation water regimes, nitrogen (N) application rates, and methods in 96 pots under arid environmental conditions during autumn 2012. Crop hydrological and agronomic characteristics were assessed under a completely randomized design with factorial arrangements. Water and N stress to the plants under observation significantly reduced the water potential, osmotic potential, and turgor pressure of the leaves. Crop growth rate and total dry matter production were significantly improved by an increase in N fertilizer application up to 300 kg ha−1 (equivalent to 4.8 g N pot−1) for all water regimes. Grain per cob, 1,000‐grain weight, and final grain yield were higher at 100% field capacity with the application of 300 kg N ha−1 under the soil N application method than those under foliar N application treatments. The best N rate for optimum grain production was attained by 300 kg ha−1 with 575‐mm supplemental irrigation water ha−1. The quadratic equation fitting revealed that the effect of N on crop growth parameters was higher than that of the supplemental irrigation; therefore, a water deficit may partly be managed by adding N to the soil. These water and N managements may be used in formulating agricultural practices to avoid degradation of lands for soil and environmental conditions similar to those of the current study warranting a field research.

Salinity Stress in Maize: Effects of Stress and Recent Developments of Tolerance for Improvement

“…In salt-stressed maize plant, growth is affected by lack of nitrogen due to the antagonistic action of nitrate ions with chloride ions [34,70]; hence, maize yield significantly improved with the addition of nitrogen under salt stress. Application of nitrogen in the amount of 120 kg ha −1 neutralized the harmful effects of salinity; in particular, it improved nitrogen absorption, growth and productivity under of salt stress conditions [71].…”

Protagonist of Mineral Nutrients in Drought Stress Tolerance of Field Crops

“…It recovers photosynthetic contents and improves cell division that lead to leaf area increment [83]. At molecular level, drought stress greatly influences photosystem-II efficiency that is recovered by optimum nitrogen accessibility [51,[84][85][86][87][88][89][90][91][92][93].…”

Influence of Water Stress on Growth, Chlorophyll Contents and Solute Accumulation in Three Accessions of Vicia faba L. from Tunisian Arid Region

“…Silicon application enhances drought tolerance of Kentucky bluegrass by improving plant water relations and morpho-physiological functions [50,51]. Moreover, the applications of N fertilizer linearly increased kernel weight during both growing seasons [52,53]. N deficiency reduces photosynthates production in plants while an optimum N fertilization may increase weight and kernel corn quantity resulting in higher crop growth rates [54].…”