Effects of Mulched Drip Irrigation and Subsurface Drip Irrigation on Corn Water Consumption,Growth and Yield

To compare the effects of subsurface drip irrigation and mulched drip irrigation on corn growth,four treatments were designed for corn field test,including a mulched drip irrigation treatment and three subsurface drip irrigation treatments of different irrigation amounts(70%,85%and 100%of mulched drip irrigation water amount).The results showed that corn water consumption under subsurface drip irrigation increased with the increase of irrigation water amount.Under same irrigation water amount,corn water consumption of mulched drip irrigation increased by 2.63%compared to subsurface drip irrigation.Under the subsurface drip irrigation,corn average daily water consumption reached the maximum in flowering stage,which was 4.10mm/d.However,under the mulched drip irrigation,corn average daily water consumption reached the maximum in jointing stage,which was 5.08mm/d.For corn plant height and stem diameter,those under mulched drip irrigation was significantly greater than subsurface drip irrigation before flowering stage and jointing stage,respectively,but those under mulched drip irrigation was the same as subsurface drip irrigation after entering the milking stage.Subsurface drip irrigation could significantly promote the growth of corn root.Under the same irrigation water amount,water absorption root length of subsurface drip irrigation treatment increased by 18.13% than mulched drip irrigation treatment.Irrigation water amount of subsurface drip irrigation did not significantly affect corn plant height,stem diameter and root.The irrigation modes and irrigation water amount of subsurface drip irrigation affected corn yield significantly.The corn yield of mulched drip irrigation increased by 12.59%than the average corn yield of subsurface drip irrigation treatments.According to comprehensive analysis for yield and water use efficiency,for subsurface drip irrigation,the suitable irrigation water amount was 85% of mulched drip irrigation water amount,water use efficiency was 2.92kg/hm~2,and yield was 11 154kg/hm~2.