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Article http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2026.09.007

Determination of Optimal Irrigation Scheduling for Green Cob Maize Production at Abaya District, West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

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Tesfaye Gragn^*, Obsa Welde, Alemayehu Mamo

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Bore Agricultural Research Center, Bore, P.O.Box 21, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author: Tesfaye Gragn

Published: September 22,2026

Abstract

Knowing the appropriate time of irrigation and the amount of water applied to the crop is essential to increase yield and water productivity. This study was conducted to evaluate the response of green cob maize crop to irrigation regime (when and how much) and to identify water productivity of green cob maize under optimal irrigation regime. Field experiments were conducted in two (2022 and 2023) consecutive years of the irrigation season. The experiment was carried out in RCBD with three replications, randomly assigned to the experimental plots with treatments. Five available soil moisture depletion levels (60% ASMDL, 80% ASMDL, 100% ASMDL (FAO-recommended ASMDL), 120% ASMDL, and 140% ASMDL) were used as treatments. The overall results obtained over two years showed that different levels of soil moisture available had a significant effect (P< 0.05) on ear length, green cob maize yield, and water productivity. However, different soil moisture depletion levels showed no significant difference in plant height and in the number of ears per plant. The highest ear length (38.42 cm), green cob maize yield (19.98 t ha^-1), and water use efficiency (8.10 kg/m³) were recorded at 60% ASMDL. On the other hand, the minimum ear length, green cob yield, and water use efficiency were recorded at 140% ASMDL. Hence, based on the findings of the current experiment, it is recommended that 60% ASMDL be used every four days for irrigation application under a conventional furrow irrigation system for green cob maize to be grown in the study area and similar agro-ecology with similar soil types be used as the best option to increase yield and water use efficiency.

Keywords

Alternate furrow irrigation; deficit levels; yield; water use efficiency

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How to cite this paper

Determination of Optimal Irrigation Scheduling for Green Cob Maize Production at Abaya District, West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

How to cite this paper: Tesfaye Gragn, Obsa Welde, Alemayehu Mamo. (2026) Determination of Optimal Irrigation Scheduling for Green Cob Maize Production at Abaya District, West Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 10(3), 255-267.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2026.09.007