Maize Irrigation Study, 1981, Georgia Coastal Plain

Yield Comparisons:
Study:

Research Objectives:

    1. Evaluate the ability of a crop computer model to predict when to irrigate.
    2. Evaluate the ability of a simple fixed irrigation schedule to meet water needs of corn.
    3. Observe water infiltration and water extraction patterns resulting from the irrigation and rainfall.
    4. Measure canopy temperature and visible wilting for preliminary calibration of infra-red thermometry.
    5. Evaluate the operation of commercial tensiometers under normal field conditions.
    6. Measure corn growth coefficients for future refinement of models in S.E. corn.
Treatments:
 1.Lambert model
 2.Tensiometer at 30cb - deep (45-60 cm)
 3.Control - Tensiometer at 30cb - shallow (15-30 cm)
 4.Stages of growth
 5.Two day delay
 6.No irrigation

Basic Crop Management: PLANTED - 12 Mar 1981 (rows 0.9m apart); HARVEST - 13 Jul 1981 (2-row grain combine); TILLAGE - Moldboard Plow (30 cm deep plus smoothing and bed shaping), wheel traffic controlled at 1.2 m centers; FERTILIZATION - Typical Extension Recommended Rate; WEED & PEST CONTROL: Typical Extension Recommendations.
Chronological Treatment and Observation Details

Observations and data sets for individual treatments (crop years) follow:
Treatment 1:
  Lambert model
 Treatment 2:
  Tensiometer at 30cb - deep (45-60 cm)
 Treatment 3:
 Control - Tensiometer at 30cb - shallow (15-30 cm)
 Treatment 4:
  Stages of growth
 Treatment 5:
  Two day delay
 Treatment 6:
  No irrigation
For more information on the study and its interpretation contact:
Dr. Jim Hook Professor, Soil and Water Management
Crop and Soil Sciences Department and NESPAL
The University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
P.O. Box 748, Tifton, GA 31793-0748
e-mail: jimhook@tifton.cpes.peachnet.edu

Page developed by James E. Hook, Amanda Richards, and Linsey Forlow.
Last Modified on 29 June 2000.