Field Assessment of Soil Water Storage and Actual Evapotranspiration of Rainfed Maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) Genotypes in a Coastal Savannah Environment
- 1 Nuclear Agriculture Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80 Legon-Accra, Ghana
- 2 Nuclear Agriculture Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80 Legon-Accra, Ghana
- 3 Nuclear Agriculture Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80 Legon-Accra, Ghana
- 4 Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Box AE 1, Kwabenya, Ghana
- 5 Nuclear Agriculture Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80 Legon-Accra, Ghana
- 6 Nuclear Agriculture Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80 Legon-Accra, Ghana
- 7 Nuclear Agriculture Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80 Legon-Accra, Ghana
- 8 Nuclear Agriculture Centre, Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Box LG 80 Legon-Accra, Ghana
Abstract
A field experiment was carried out in a coastal savannah agro-ecological zone of Ghana to assess the dynamics of stored soil water and actual evapotranspiration (AET) of three maize genotypes (Obatanpa, Mamaba, and Golden Crystal) grown under rainfed conditions. Access tubes were installed to a depth of 120 cm for soil water content monitoring using a neutron probe meter. The soil water balance model of plant root zone was used to estimate AET at different crop growth stages. On average, the rate of AET for Obatanpa, Mamaba, and Golden Crystal maize genotypes were estimated as 4.32, 4.46, and 3.72 mm·day –1 , respectively, for the major cropping season as against corresponding values of 3.88, 4.00 and 3.72 mm day –1 for the minor cropping season. Mamaba had higher values of AET from 42 DAE (days after emergence) to 84 DAE during the minor cropping season while it had low AET values during the major cropping season. The positive balance in stored soil water in the root zone of Obatanpa was the highest from 42 DAE to 84 DAE followed by Mamaba and Golden Crystal during the major cropping season. Mamaba, on the other hand, had the highest AET from 70 DAE to 84 DAE. Obatanpa used 55.6% of stored soil water for AET, which was the highest among the maize genotypes during the major cropping season. Golden Crystal and Mamaba followed with 53.3% and 51.5%. For the minor cropping season, 48.5% of stored soil water was used by Mamaba for AET, followed by Obatanpa, (46.4%) and Golden Crystal (43.2%). A strong positive significant (p ≤ 0.05) linear correlation existed between AET and precipitation with the coefficient of determination (R 2 ) being 69.2 for Obatanpa, 88.5 for Mamaba and 82.8 for Golden Crystal for the major cropping season. Higher R 2 values (98.0, for Obatanpa, 94.1 for Mamaba and 98.9 for Golden Crystal) were, however, obtained for the minor cropping season. Additionally, a strong linear relationship was found between AET and precipitation, suggesting the need to formulate strategies for enhancing effective use of precipitation in sustained rainfed maize production.
- W. H. Alley, R.W. Healy, J. W. LaBaugh, and T. E. Reilly, “Flow and Storage in Ground Water Systems,” Science, Vol. 296, 2002: pp. 1985 – 1990. doi:10.1126/science.1067123
- A. Y. Kamara, J. G. Kling, S. O. Ajala, A. Menkir, “Vertical Root pulling Resistance in Maize is related to Nitrogen Uptake and Yield,” 7th Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Maize Conference, Kenya, Nairobi, 11th – 15th Feb. 2004, pp. 228 – 232.
- A. Mando, “The Impact of Termites and Mulch on the Water balance of Crusted Sahelien Soil,” Soil Technology, Vol. 11, No. 2, 1997, pp. 121 – 138. doi:10.1016/S0933-3630(97)00003-2
- J. L. Araus, G. A. Slafer, M. P. Reynolds, “Plant Breeding and Drought in C3 Cereals: what should we breed for?” Annals of Botany, Vol. 89, 2002, pp. 925-940. doi:10.1093/aob/mcf049
- J. O. Frimpong, H. M. Amoatey, E. O. Ayeh, and D. K. Asare, “Productivity and Soil Water Use by Rainfed Maize Genotypes in a Coastal Savannah Environment,” International Agrophysics, Vol. 25, 2011, pp. 123 – 129.
- N. Hatibu, M. D. B. Young, J. W. Gowing, H. F. Mahoo, and O. B. Mzirai, “Developing Improved Dry Land Cropping Systems for Maize in semi-arid Tanzania Part 1”: Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Vol. 39, 2003, pp. 279-292. doi:10.1017/S0014479703001285
- S. P. Wani, P. Patrick, T. K. Sreedevi, H. P. Singh, and P. Singh, “Efficient Management of Rainwater for increased Crop Productivity and Groundwater Recharge in Asia” CABI Publishing and International Water Management Institute, Wallingford, 2003, pp. 56.
- A. A. Dankyi, P. Y. K. Sallah, A. Adu –Appiah, and A. Gyamera-Antwi, “Determination of the adoption of Quality Protein Maize, Obatanpa, in Southern Ghana– Logistic regression analysis.” Paper presented at the 5th West and Central Africa Regional Maize Workshop, IITA –Cotonou, Benin Republic 2 – 7 May 2005. pp 6 –13.
- M. L. Morris, R. Tripp, and A. A. Dankyi, “Adoption and Impacts of Improved Maize Production Technology”: A case study of the Ghana Grains Development Project. Economics Program Paper 99 – 01. Mexico, D. F.: CIMMYT. 1999, pp. 3 – 41.
- FAO/UNESCO, “Soil Map of the World, revised legend,” World Resources Report 60. FAO, Rome. 1994, p. 146.
- International Atomic Energy Agency, “Neutron and Gamma Probes: Their Use in Agronomy,” Reports Series No. 16, 2002, IAEA, Vienna.
- J. T. Musick, O. R. Jones, B. A. Stemart, D. A. Dusek, “Water-Yield Relationships for Irrigated and Dry land Wheat in the US Southern Plains,” Agron. J. Vol. 86, 1994, pp. 980-986. doi:10.2134/agronj1994.00021962008600060010x