The Effect of Different Irrigation Levels on the Yield and Some Quality Traits of Maize Cultivars

This study was conducted in 2023 under the conditions of Eskisehir to determine the effects of different irrigation levels on the yield and quality traits of maize cultivars. Three maize cultivars (P0937, P0900, DKC5812) were subjected to five different irrigation levels (171, 342, 513, 684, and 855 mm). The experiment was designed as a split-plot arrangement with maize varieties as the main plots and irrigation levels as the subplots, replicated three times. According to the results obtained from the experiment, statistically significant differences were found among the cultivars in terms of plant height, first ear height, ear length, thousand-kernel weight, test weight, protein content, and starch content. Additionally, statistically significant differences were observed among the irrigation levels in terms of plant height, first ear height, ear length, ear diameter, thousand-kernel weight, test weight, fat content, protein content, and starch content. Concerning irrigation levels, plant height ranged from 206.0 cm (171 mm) to 282.3 cm (855 mm), first ear height ranged from 97.4 (171 mm) to 128.3 cm (513 mm), ear diameter ranged from 44.8 (171 mm) to 50.6 mm (855 mm), grain yield ranged from 800.7 (171 mm) to 1606.0 kg da⁻¹ (855 mm), thousand-kernel weight varied from 232.2 (171 mm) to 316.3 g (855 mm), test weight ranged from 76.0 (171 mm) to 78.3 kg (684 mm), ash content varied between 1.30 (855 mm) and 1.35% (171 and 342 mm), fat content ranged from 3.54 (855 mm) to 3.80% (171 mm), protein content varied from 8.03 (855 mm) to 9.72% (171 mm), and starch content ranged from 73.42 (171 mm) to 74.61% (855 mm). Increasing irrigation levels generally had positive effects on yield components such as plant growth, ear development, and kernel yield. However, negative effects of irrigation were also observed in quality components such as protein and fat content. This highlights the necessity of considering not only yield improvement but also product quality when determining irrigation strategies. Therefore, when formulating irrigation strategies, a balance between yield and quality must be achieved, and the water response of each maize cultivar should be considered.