Effects of Irrigation and Mulching Levels on Yield, Yield Component and Water Productivity of Maize in Dugda District, East Shewa Zone of Oromia

Mulching conserve water and improve irrigation efficiency in agriculture, especially in the areas where water resources are limited and regulated. The objectives of this research were to examine the effect deficit irrigation and levels of wheat straw mulch on yield, yield components and water productivity of maize in Dugda district of East shewa zone of Oromia Regional state. The experimental design consisted two (irrigation levels and straw mulch) factors arranged in factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The two factors were the four irrigation levels (55% ETc, 85% ETc, 70% ETc and 100% ETc) and three levels (no mulch, 3t/ha of wheat straw mulch and 5t/ha of wheat straw mulch) of wheat straw mulch. According to USDA soil textural classification, the soil of experimental site was classified as sandy loam soil. The highest and minimum plant height were recorded from the treatment of 100% ETc*5t/ha of wheat straw mulch and 55% ETc without mulch respectively. Moreover, the mulching with 100% ETc*5t/ha improved plant height by 7.5% than 55% ETc with no mulch. Statistically there was significant difference (P<0.05) between the treatments on cob length, cob diameter and thousand seeds weight. The highest and minimum cob length, and cob diameter and thousand seeds weight were recorded from the treatment of 100% ETc*5t/ha of wheat straw mulch and 55% ETc with no mulch respectively over the others. Statistically there was significant difference (p<0.05) between the treatments on the yield and water productivity. The mean of highest and minimum yield were recorded from the treatment of 100% ETc*5t/ha of wheat straw mulch and 55% ETc without mulch respectively over the others. The highest and minimum water productivity were recorded from the treatment of 55% ETc*5t/ha of wheat straw mulch and 100% ETc (control) with no mulch respectively over the others. The plot mulching with 100% ETc*5t/ha and 55% ETc*5t/ha of wheat straw mulch improved yield and water productivity by 33.94% and 43.63% than 55% ETc with no mulch respectively. Therefore, it could be concluded that the critical depth of water application for moisture stress area should not be below 85% ETc with 5t/ha of wheat straw mulch of full maize water requirement for obtaining relatively good grain yield with a better improvement on water productivity and economically viable in study area and similarly agro ecology.