Effects of Irrigation at Different Growth Stages, and of Nitrogen Levels on Corn Yields in Lajas Valley, P.R.

Abstract

Two field experiments using nine irrigation and three nitrogen levels were conducted at Lajas Substation in order to determine the effects of irrigation at different growth stages on the production of field corn. Some plots were frequently irrigated, irrigated when 20 percent of the available moisture had been depleted from the active root zone; and intermediately irrigated, irrigated when the depletion was 60 percent throughout the whole growing season. Other plots were frequently irrigated from planting to the tasseling, silking, and hard-dough stages, not being irrigated thereafter; while others still were not irrigated after the crop was established until the tasseling, silking, and hard-dough stages; these plots were frequently irrigated thereafter. Nonirrigated plots were used as checks.