Determining yield response factor (ky) of silage maize under different irrigation levels of pulsed and continuous irrigation management

The amount of irrigation water applied to the root zone of plants can greatly affect crop yield. The yield response factor (ky) indicates the reduction in crop yield as a function of evapotranspiration and can be an important tool for yield forecasting and irrigation management. The objective of this study was to determine the yield response factor (ky) of silage maize under different irrigation levels in the arid and semi-arid regions of Varamin, Iran. Actual crop evapotranspiration was determined by monitoring soil water content in the root zone of the plants. After harvest, the biological yield was determined and the yield response factor of silage maize was calculated. The results showed that the highest and lowest biological yield of silage maize were associated with treatments PI1 and PI4, respectively. The silage corn yield response factor (ky) in this study was 2.13, indicating a high sensitivity of silage corn yield to crop water use. As a result, it is recommended that pulsed management in drip irrigation systems with 60% deficit irrigation be avoided in areas with climatic conditions similar to those in the study area and limited water resources, as this reduces crop production efficiency.