The effects of salinity stress on maize yield based on macroscopic production functions at reproductive growth stage

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assoc. Prof., Research and Technology Institute of Plant Production (RTIPP), Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman, Iran

2 Assist. Prof., Dept. of Soil Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

Maize in response to salinity stress exhibits different responses during different growth stages and reproductive growth stage is the most sensitive stage of plant growth. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ability of salinity simulator models to estimate maize (SC704) yield, during reproductive growth stage. Process-physical models including Maas and Hoffman, van Genuchten and Hoffman, Dirksen et al. and Homaee et al. models were used to access this objective. In order to create real growth conditions in saline soils, natural saline water of Nough lake in Rafsanjan, Kerman province, Iran, with electrical conductivity of 42.6 dS.m-1, was used and diluted with normal fresh water for preparation of salinity treatments studied in this experiment. Treatments used in this study were five salinity levels of 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 dS/m with a non-saline water (as check treatment) that were studied in three replications. The results of modified efficiency coefficient (E'), modified agreement index (d') and coefficient of residual mass (CRM) statistics showed that the van Genuchten and Hoffman model with the highest accuracy (E'=0.87, d'=0.91) was the most accurate model for shoot height, while for shoot dry weight, the Nonlinear model of Homaee et al. (with the accuracy of E'=0.86 and d'=0.90) and for final grain yield, the Maas and Hoffman model (with the accuracy of E'=0.94 and d'=0.96), had the most accuracy and the best estimate. In total, the results of this study showed that salinity simulation models had good ability to estimate maize yield under salinity stress and better management of allocation of low quality water resources in different stages of plant growth. In other words, the four models of Maas and Hoffman, van Genuchten and Hoffman, Dirksen et al. and Homaee et al. can be effective tools in using saline water sources with varying degrees of salinity to achieve optimal maize production. Therefore, by precisely determining the optimal model for each growth stage and accepting the risk of yield loss due to salinity of irrigation water, low-quality water resources can also be considerably utilized in maize yield production.

Keywords


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