Increasing maize and sunflower seed yield using plastic mulch: an approach to optimum use of water

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M. Sc. Graduated of Agroecology, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Engineering, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

Drought is the most important abiotic stress in Iran, which leads to a significant decrease in plant yield. Crops need a lot of water. ‎Evaporation and transpiration determines the plant's water requirement. Water is one of the rare resources in Iran, which is affected ‎by the amount of rainfall. In Iran, the cultivation of maize has been greatly promoted in recent years, and its use in livestock and ‎poultry feeding and industrial uses has been noticed. Sunflower, as the main source of vegetable oil in the world, is of special ‎importance, which requires a lot of water. Plastic mulch is especially important in reducing water consumption in arid and semi-‎arid areas.‎

An experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm, Agricultural ‎and Natural Resources Campus, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran in 2016. The plants used in this experiment were maize and ‎sunflower. Treatments included plastic mulch between the rows, plastic coating on the plant (only in maize) and control (without ‎plastic). Treatments were applied at the beginning of the experiment and before germination.‎

The plastic mulch between rows had the highest growth and yield of maize and sunflower than other treatments. In maize, plastic ‎mulch between the rows had higher biological yield, harvest index, number of seeds per row, ear weight, and 100-seed weight than ‎that of control, but there was no significant difference between plastic mulch between rows and plastic coating on the plant in terms ‎of mentioned traits. There was no significant difference among treatments in terms of number of rows per ear, ear skin weight, and ‎ear length. In sunflower, plastic mulch between rows had higher biological yield, head diameter, head weight, and 100-seed weight ‎than control, and there were no significant differences between treatments in terms of harvest index, and number of seeds per ‎head. ‎

The results of this experiment show that by applying plastic mulch, especially ‎between the planting rows and before the seeds ‎germinate, while reducing the ‎length of the growth period and better use of moisture, the seed yield of maize ‎and sunflower can be ‎increased compared to not using plastic mulch by 38 and ‎‎41 percent, respectively. Other possible reasons for increasing grain yield ‎‎under the conditions of using nylon mulch included reducing evaporation and ‎increasing soil temperature at the beginning of the ‎growth period.‎

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Afshar, H., & Mehrabadi, H.R. (2005). Investigation of different patterns of alternate furrow irrigation on total water use ‎and ‎yield of cotton. Final Report of Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Mashhad, 19-‎‎23. ‎https://kanrrc.areeo.ac.ir/fa-IR/kanrrc.areeo.ac/22836/page ‎[In Persian]‎
Afshar, H., Sadrghaen, S.H., & Mehrabadi, H.R. (2013). Evaluation of application of plastic mulch on ‎water used and seed ‎cotton yield. Journal of Water and Soil (Agricultural Sciences and Technology), ‎‎26(6), 1421-1427. ‎https://sid.ir/paper/141408/en‏ ‏‎[In Persian]‎
Amini, R., Dabbagh Mohammadi Nasab, A., & Ghalandarzade, E. (2015). Effect of mulch and water stress on some ‎physiological traits, yield components and grain yield of red kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Iranian Journal of Field Crops ‎Research, 13(4), 687-699. https://doi.org/10.22067/gsc.v13i4.30532‎‎ [In Persian]‎
Azizi, M., Shahriari, S., Aroiee, H., & Ansari, H. (2015). The effect of irrigation regimes and mulch application on vegetative ‎indices and essential oil content of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). Journal of Horticultural Science, 29(1), 11-21. ‎https://doi.org/‎10.22067/jhorts4.v0i0.45070‎‏ ‏‎[In Persian]‎
Bakhtiari Moghadam, M., Vazan, S., Hamidi, A., Darvishi, B., Esfini Farahani, M., ‎Azizkhani, S., & Rezaei, ‎K. (2012). The effect of mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) living mulch ‎on weeds management and yield and ‎yield components of corn (Zea mays L.). Iranian ‎Journal of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, 8(3), 57-67. ‎https://sid.ir/paper/190259/en ‎[In Persian]‎
Boozar, S. (2014). Effect of three types of petroleum pollution on physiological and morphological traits of potato and carrot. ‎Master of Science Thesis in Agronomy. College of Agricultural and Natural Resources, Shahrekord University, Iran‎. [In Persian]‎
Brainard, D.C., & Bellinder, R.R. (2004). Weed suppression in a broccoli-winter rye intercropping system. Weed Science, 52, 281-290. https://doi.org/10.1614/WS-03-031R
Cakir, R. (2004). Effect of water stress at different development stages on vegetative and reproductive growth of corn. Field Crops Research, 89, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2004.01.005
Dahiya, R., Ingwersen, J., & Streck, T. (2007). The effect of mulching and tillage on the water and temperature regimes of a loess soil: experimental findings and modeling. Soil and Tillage Research, 96(1-2), 52-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2007.02.004
Decoteau, D., Kasperbauer, M., Daniels, D., & Hunt, P. (1988). Plastic mulch color effects on reflected light and tomato plant growth. Scientia Horticulturae, 34(3), 169-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4238(88)90089-1
Dong, B. (2010). Growth, grain yield, and water use efficiency of rain-fed spring hybrid millet (Setaria italica) in plastic-mulched and unmulched fields. Agricultural Water Management, 143, 93-101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2014.06.011
Eslami, A., & Farzamnia, M. (2009). Effect of mulch material on increasing soil water holding ‎capacity and pistachio yield. Iranian Journal of Irrigation and Drainage, 3(2), 79-87. ‎https://sid.ir/paper/131535/en [In Persian]‎
Farhadi, A., & Akbari, M. (2004). Effects of polyethylenemulches and irrigation methods on yield and precocity of Esfahan Melon. Agricaltural Engineering Resaerch Institude publication, 29. http://www.aeri.ir/WebGenerator/PageView.aspx?src=779 [In Persian]
Farias, L., Guzman, S., & Michel A. C. (1994). Effect of plastic mulches on the Growth and yield of cucumber in tropical region. Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 10, 303-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/01448765.1994.9754682
Fereres, W., Gimenez, C., & Femandez, J. M. (1986). Genetic variability in sunflower cultivars under drought, yield relationships. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 37, 573-582. https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9860573
Gholinejad, E., Aeeneh band, A., Hasanzade ghortappe, A., Barnoosi, I., & Rezaei, H. (2009). Evalution of effective drought stress on yield, yield components and harvest index of sunflower hybrid Iroflor and different levels of nitrogen and plant population in Uromieh climate conditions. Journal of plant production, 16 (3), 1-27.  https://sid.ir/paper/155896/en [In Persian]
Ham, J. M., & Kluitenberg, G. (1994). Modeling the effect of mulch optical properties and mulch-soil contact resistance on soil heating under plastic mulch culture. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 71(3), 403-424. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1923(94)90022-1
Hosseini, A., & Nemati, H. (2014). Effect of irrigation interval on growth characteristics, quantitative and qualitative yield of ‎tomatoes under application and non-application of plastic mulch. Journal of Agoecology, 6, 552-560. ‎https://civilica.com/doc/663234 [In Persian]‎
Jalota, S. K. (1993). Evaporation Through a soil mulch in relation to characteristics and evaporativity. Australian Journal of Soil Research, 31, 131-6. https://doi.org/10.1071/SR9930131
Javanmardi, J. (2010). Growing organic vegetables. Jihadedaneshgahie Mashad Press. Mashad. Iran. 349. https://www.jdmpress.com › books‎ [In Persian]
Javanmardi, J., & Rezaei, R. (2021). The effect of colored polyethylene mulch on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics ‎of green bell pepper. Journal of Vegetables Sciences, 1(2), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.22034/iuvs.2015.15367‎ [In Persian]‎
Khamari, S., Ghasemi, K., Alyari, H., Zehtab Salmasi, S., & Dabagh Mohammadinasab, A. (2007). The effect of irrigation on phenology and yield of three sunflower cultivars in Tabriz. Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources Sciences, 14 (6), 72-80. https://sid.ir/paper/460944/fa [In Persian]
Liakatas, A., Clark, J., & Monteith, J. (1986). Measurements of the heat balance under plastic mulches. Part I. Radiation balance and soil heat flux. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 36(3), 227-239. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1923(86)90037-7
Malhi, S.S., Lemke, R., Wang, Z.H., & Chhabra, S. (2006). Tillage, nitrogen and crop residue effects on crop yield, nutrient uptake, soil quality, and greenhouse gas emission. Soil and Tillage Research, 90, 171-183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2005.09.001
Mazaheri Laghab, H., Nouri, F., Zare Abyaneh, H., & Vafaei, H. (2001). Effects of ‎supplemental irrigation on important agronomy traits of three cultivars of sunflower in dry ‎farming. Agricultural Research, 3(1), 33-43. https://sid.ir/paper/84834/en‏ ‏‎[In Persian]‎
Moreno, M.M., Moreno, A., & Mancebo, I. (2009). Comparison of different mulch materials in a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) crop. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 7(2), 454-464. https://doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2009072-1500
Mozafari, K., Arshi, Y., Zinali, H. (1996). Evaluation of the effect of drought stress on some morphophysiological traits and components of yield in sunflower. Seed and Plant, 12, 24-33. https://spj.areeo.ac.ir/browse?_action=issue&lang=en
Namakka, A., Abubakar, I.U., Sadik, I.A., Sharifai, A.I., & Hassas A.H. (2008). Effect of sowing date and nitrogen level on yield and yield components of two extra early maize varieties (Zea mays L.) in Sudan savanna of Nigeria. ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science, 3(2), 1-5. https://www.arpnjournals.com
Nastari Nasrabadi, H., Nemati, S. H., Sobhani, A., & Aroiee, H. (2012). Effect of mulch and interval irrigation ‎on yield and fruit quality of tow cultivar Khorasan Razavi province melon. Journal of Horticultural Science, ‎‎26(3), 327-333. https://doi.org/10.22067/jhorts4.v0i0.15217 ‎[In Persian]‎
Nesmith, D.S., & Ritchie J.T. (1992). Short-and long-term responses of corn to a preanthesis soil water deficit. Agronomy Journal, 84, 107-113.                                      https://doi.org/10.2134/agronj1992.00021962008400010021x
Pankovic, D.Z., Sakac, S., Kcvroson, Plesnikar, M. (1999). Acclimation to long term water deficit in theleaves of two sunflower hybrid: Photosynthesis, electron transport and carbon metabolism. Journal of Experimental Botany, 50, 127-138. https://doi.org/10.1093/jexbot/50.330.127
Rafiee, M. (2002). Effect of water deficiency‎، ‏zinc and phosphorus on root characteristics and yield and quality of corn. Ph.D. ‎Thesis of Crop Physiology. Islamic Azad University, Science and Research. Ahvaz, Iran‏.‏‎ [In Persian]‎
Razi, H., & Assad, M.T. (1998). Evaluating variability of important agronomic traits and drought tolerant criteria in sunflower ‎cultivars. Journal of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, 2 (1), 31-44. http://jstnar.iut.ac.ir/article-1-264-fa.html [In ‎Persian]‎
Ritchie, S. W., & Nguyen, H. T. (1990). Leaf water content and gas exchange parameters ‎of two wheat genotypes differing in drought resistance. Crop Science, 30, 105-111.‎ https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci1990.0011183X003000010025x
Schonbeck, W.M., & Evanylo, G.K. (1998). Effects of mulches on soil properties and tomato production I. Soil temperature, soil moisture and marketable yield. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 13, 55-81. https://doi.org/10.1300/J064v13n01_06
Seilsepoor, M., Jaafari, P., & Mollahosseini, H. (2006). The effects of drought stress and plant density on yield and some agronomic traits of maize (SC 301). Journal of Research in Agricultural Science, 2, 13-24. https://sid.ir/paper/115232/fa [In Persian]
Seyedzavar, J., Norouzi, M., Aharizad, S., & Bandehhagh, A. (2015). Relationship between yield and yield components of maize ‎hybrids under different irrigation. Journal of Crop Ecophysiology, 9(1), 93-108‎‏.‏‎ ‎https://jcep.tabriz.iau.ir/article_516699.html?lang=en‎‏ ‏‎[In Persian]‎
Teama, E.A., & Mohmoud, A.M. (1994). Response of sunflower to watering regions and nitrogen fertilization. J. Agriculturistics. Assuit Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 25, 29-37. https://www.aun.edu.eg › agriculture
Advanced Technologies in Water Efficiency
Volume 3, Issue 3
September 2023
Pages 53-67

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 25 September 2023
  • Revise Date: 27 November 2023
  • Accept Date: 09 December 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics