Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern India
Agriculture consumes nearly 80 % of India's freshwater, and the expansion of spring maize, a newly introduced water-intensive crop, is exacerbating groundwater depletion in northwestern India. This study, conducted at Centre for Water Technology and Management, Punjab Agricultural University, L...
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Agricultural Water Management |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742500349X |
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| author | Khushkarandeep Singh Vinay Kumar Sindhu Ajmer Singh Brar J.S. Lamba J.S. Deol R.S. Jakhar Ranjeet Singh |
| author_facet | Khushkarandeep Singh Vinay Kumar Sindhu Ajmer Singh Brar J.S. Lamba J.S. Deol R.S. Jakhar Ranjeet Singh |
| author_sort | Khushkarandeep Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agriculture consumes nearly 80 % of India's freshwater, and the expansion of spring maize, a newly introduced water-intensive crop, is exacerbating groundwater depletion in northwestern India. This study, conducted at Centre for Water Technology and Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, in 2023 and 2024, aimed to strategically integrate available agro-techniques for efficient water use in spring maize, promoting sustainable production. A split-plot field experiment assessed two maize hybrids (DKC 9108, DKC 9208) and eight combinations of different planting methods [ridge planting and pneumatic broad-bed planting], mulching [straw mulch at 9 t/ha and plastic mulching], irrigation methods [furrow irrigation, surface drip irrigation (SDI), sub-surface drip irrigation (SSDI)] and irrigation scheduling [irrigation at 1.0 IW:CPE, 1.2 IW:CPE, 80 % ETc, 100 % ETc and at 30 % depletion of available moisture (DASM)]. The results showed that both the spring maize hybrids, exhibited similar growth and yield across both years. Similarly, ridge planting with furrow irrigation and pneumatic broad-bed planting with furrow irrigation resulted in comparable grain yield across the years. However, latter resulted in 9–20 % saving of irrigation water with 11–26 % higher apparent water productivity (AWP). Integrating pneumatic broad-bed planting with SDI without straw mulching did not significantly increase the grain yield of spring maize during both years but saved 26–27 % irrigation water and improved AWP by 43–44 %, however, during 2024, SSDI without straw mulch increased the grain yield by 7 %, with 14 % saving of irrigation water and 25 % higher AWP compared to furrow irrigation in pneumatic broad-bed planting. Further, integrating straw mulch at 9 t/ha and pneumatic broad-bed planting with either SDI or SSDI had no significant effect on grain yield during 2023, but increased the grain yield by 9–13 % and net returns by 10–16 % as compared to SDI or SSDI without straw mulch in 2024. In conclusion, the combination of pneumatic broad-bed planting with straw mulch at 9 t/ha and SSDI at 30 % DASM increased grain yield by 16–19 % and 15–18 %, AWP by 35–73 % and 22–37 %, and net returns by 20–27 % and 18–24 %, while saving 14–31 % and 6–14 % irrigation water, and 20 % fertilizers compared to ridge planting with furrow irrigation and pneumatic broad-bed with furrow irrigation, respectively. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2eebaaa47fb24d9ca89abae31f4d12eb |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1873-2283 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-2eebaaa47fb24d9ca89abae31f4d12eb2025-07-30T04:16:48ZengElsevierAgricultural Water Management1873-22832025-08-01317109635Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern IndiaKhushkarandeep Singh0Vinay Kumar Sindhu1Ajmer Singh Brar2J.S. Lamba3J.S. Deol4R.S. Jakhar5Ranjeet Singh6Centre for Water Management and Technology, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004, India; Corresponding authors.Centre for Water Management and Technology, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004, India; Corresponding authors.Centre for Water Management and Technology, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004, IndiaDepartment of Animal Nutrition, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 141004, IndiaCentre for Water Management and Technology, Department of Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141 004, IndiaBayer CropScience Limited, IndiaBayer CropScience Limited, IndiaAgriculture consumes nearly 80 % of India's freshwater, and the expansion of spring maize, a newly introduced water-intensive crop, is exacerbating groundwater depletion in northwestern India. This study, conducted at Centre for Water Technology and Management, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, in 2023 and 2024, aimed to strategically integrate available agro-techniques for efficient water use in spring maize, promoting sustainable production. A split-plot field experiment assessed two maize hybrids (DKC 9108, DKC 9208) and eight combinations of different planting methods [ridge planting and pneumatic broad-bed planting], mulching [straw mulch at 9 t/ha and plastic mulching], irrigation methods [furrow irrigation, surface drip irrigation (SDI), sub-surface drip irrigation (SSDI)] and irrigation scheduling [irrigation at 1.0 IW:CPE, 1.2 IW:CPE, 80 % ETc, 100 % ETc and at 30 % depletion of available moisture (DASM)]. The results showed that both the spring maize hybrids, exhibited similar growth and yield across both years. Similarly, ridge planting with furrow irrigation and pneumatic broad-bed planting with furrow irrigation resulted in comparable grain yield across the years. However, latter resulted in 9–20 % saving of irrigation water with 11–26 % higher apparent water productivity (AWP). Integrating pneumatic broad-bed planting with SDI without straw mulching did not significantly increase the grain yield of spring maize during both years but saved 26–27 % irrigation water and improved AWP by 43–44 %, however, during 2024, SSDI without straw mulch increased the grain yield by 7 %, with 14 % saving of irrigation water and 25 % higher AWP compared to furrow irrigation in pneumatic broad-bed planting. Further, integrating straw mulch at 9 t/ha and pneumatic broad-bed planting with either SDI or SSDI had no significant effect on grain yield during 2023, but increased the grain yield by 9–13 % and net returns by 10–16 % as compared to SDI or SSDI without straw mulch in 2024. In conclusion, the combination of pneumatic broad-bed planting with straw mulch at 9 t/ha and SSDI at 30 % DASM increased grain yield by 16–19 % and 15–18 %, AWP by 35–73 % and 22–37 %, and net returns by 20–27 % and 18–24 %, while saving 14–31 % and 6–14 % irrigation water, and 20 % fertilizers compared to ridge planting with furrow irrigation and pneumatic broad-bed with furrow irrigation, respectively.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742500349XBroad-bed plantingDrip irrigationSpring maizeWater productivityWater use |
| spellingShingle | Khushkarandeep Singh Vinay Kumar Sindhu Ajmer Singh Brar J.S. Lamba J.S. Deol R.S. Jakhar Ranjeet Singh Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern India Agricultural Water Management Broad-bed planting Drip irrigation Spring maize Water productivity Water use |
| title | Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern India |
| title_full | Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern India |
| title_fullStr | Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern India |
| title_short | Optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro-techniques in groundwater-stressed regions of northwestern India |
| title_sort | optimizing water use in spring maize through integrated agro techniques in groundwater stressed regions of northwestern india |
| topic | Broad-bed planting Drip irrigation Spring maize Water productivity Water use |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037837742500349X |
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