Efficiency of drip irrigation in corn cultivation under low temperature conditions in the state of Sonora, Mexico

• DOI: 10.22533/at.ed.9733162305106

• Palavras-chave: Incremento del rendimiento, Ahorro de agua y Riego por goteo.

• Keywords: Increased yield, Water savings and Drip irrigation.

• Abstract:

  In this region, autumn-winter corn is among the crops with the highest water demand, seven irrigations in total are applied under gravity irrigation, with a net sheet of 95 cm and this limits the increase in the corn surface as happened In the 2021-22 cycle, only 8,500 hectares were planted. Due to the lack of water in the 2022-23 cycle, corn irrigation was reduced from six relief irrigations to only four relief irrigations. Commercial planting of corn under pressurized irrigation, whether drip or sprinkler irrigation, is minimal and can be a way to increase yield, water productivity and reduce the risk of frost. The work was carried out in the O-I 2022-23 cycle with a producer from the Yaqui Valley, located in Block 1414 (27.271079-109.872362), the drip irrigation system (new) was studied in the cultivation of corn in a surface of 8 ha and with the Hipopótamo hybrid on the planting date of November 15, 2023, the type of soil was clay known in the region as Barrial Profundo. Results: The corn was frozen on January 23, 2023 at temperatures of 1.45 to 1.98 °C for a period of 50 minutes, even so, the grain yield was 17,371 kg/ha, with a plant height of 3.14 m, a population of ears of 106,852/ha, the weight per ear was 192.5 grams, hectoliter weight of 68.8 kg/hl, number of rows/ear 13.6 and the weight ratio of grain and cob 80.8.19.2. The total irrigation layer applied in the cycle was 662 mm and the water productivity was 381 liters of water to produce one kilogram of corn grain.