Irrigation management in maize (Zea mays L.) using tensiometers

Abstract

With the objective of determining the timing and dosage of irrigation for maize cultivation, considering maize tension, this research was conducted in areas of the Horquita Agricultural Enterprise in Cienfuegos, Cuba, on a leached Red Ferralitic soil with a clay texture. The selected crop was maize planted during the winter season under a five-tower Western electric center pivot irrigation system. The soil's hydrophysical properties were determined in situ for irrigation scheduling. In a longitudinal design, five stations with two tensiometers each were established to determine moisture tension values. Descriptive statistics were applied, Levene's test was used to verify the assumption of homoscedasticity between the variances of the groups, and subsequently, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed. Differences between the mean moisture tension values ​​were determined using Tukey's HSD multiple comparison test with a 95% confidence level. The IBM SPSS statistical package, version 25, was used. It was concluded that under the conditions of the study, the measurements of soil matric tension at a depth of 0.30 m revealed the need to apply 18 irrigations to the crop with a total depth of 268 mm, thus constituting a good indicator of soil water availability and is considered an effective tool for monitoring irrigation in maize cultivation.