Water and Irrigation Management

Water and Irrigation Management

Analysis of the effects of conventional and partial root-zone irrigation treatments on maize yield using the SALTMED model under drip-tape irrigation

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Behzad Azadegan
Mahmoud Mashal
Seyyed Ebrahim Hashemi Garmdareh
Maryam Varavi pour
Maryam Tavakkoli
Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.22059/jwim.2025.396539.1237
Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of conventional irrigation (DI) and partial root-zone drying (PRD) treatments using drip-tape irrigation on the yield of grain maize (hybrid single cross 704), through simulation with the SALTMED model. The experiment was conducted with six irrigation treatments (three levels of 100%, 75%, and 55% of crop water requirement), each replicated three times, at the research farm of the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, University of Tehran. The field experiment followed a split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design and was conducted in Pakdasht City. Results under conventional irrigation showed measured yields of 11.86, 9.80, and 6.12 t/ha for the 100%, 75%, and 55% water requirement levels, respectively. The corresponding model-simulated yields were 11.71, 10.08, and 6.11 t/ha. The statistical indices NRSME were 8.75%, 11.2%, and 12.34%, RMSE were 0.55, 0.52, and 0.34 t/ha, and R² was 0.99. Under PRD treatments, measured yields were 10.10, 8.34, and 5.73 t/ha, while the simulated yields were 10.65, 8.56, and 5.65 t/ha, respectively. The NRSME values were 14.04%, 10.63%, and 9.48%, RMSE were 0.74, 0.39, and 0.27 t/ha, and R² was 0.98. No significant differences were observed between the measured and model-estimated values. The SALTMED model demonstrated good accuracy in predicting maize grain yield, optimizing water consumption, and enhancing irrigation management, particularly for deficit irrigation practices in arid climates.
Keywords
Deficit irrigation
Partial root drying
Yield
Maize
Modeling
Subjects
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Water and Irrigation Management
Volume 15, Issue 3
Autumn 2025
Pages 509-524