EFFECT OF SURFACE IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES AND NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND POTASSIUM RATES ON MAIZE YIELD IN ALLUVIAL SOILS

A field experiment was carried out at Batra village -Talkha district Dakahlia Governorate during two successive summer growing seasons 2010 and 2011 to study the effect of two surface irrigation systems (furrow  and bed furrow irrigation systems) and four rates of NPK (0-0-0, 60-6.5-20, 90-10-30 and 120-13-40 kg N-P-K/fed, respectively) and their combinations on maize (c.v. single hybrid 30-K-8) yield, yield components, chemical composition, fertilization efficiency, soil fertility and some water relations. The most important results could be summarized as follows. Maize grain and stalk yields were insignificantly affected by irrigation systems in both seasons, but 1000-grain weight was significant.  Addition of NPK levels significantly increased grain yield, stalk yield and 1000-grain weight. Interaction between irrigation systems and NPK levels increased grain and stalk yields,  insignificantly.  N % in stalk and grain was significantly affected by irrigation systems, but P % and K % were insignificantly affected. Addition NPK levels significantly increased N, P and K % in maize stalk and grain. Also, interaction between irrigation systems and NPK levels increased N, P and K concentrations in maize. The values of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), phosphor use efficiency (PUE) and potassium use efficiency (KUE), were higher with furrow irrigation technique than bed furrow irrigation in two seasons. Also, addition of NPK levels increased NUE, PUE and KUE, respectively compared with control (zero level). The addition of NPK at 90-10-30 kg N-P-K/fed, respectively produced the highest values of NUE, PUE and KUE. Soil fertility were affected by irrigation techniques and NPK levels, where available N in soil increased insignificantly, but available P and K significantly increased with irrigation systems in both seasons.  Application different levels of NPK increased significantly the availability of N, P, and K in soil. The average values of soil salinity were increased significantly with bed furrow irrigation methods and NPK levels as well as their interactions. The highest mean value of field water use efficiency in the two seasons (1.34 and 1.43 kg grain/m³, respectively) was recorded with 120, 13 and 40 kg NPK/fed under bed furrow irrigation system.