engleski

Influences of irrigation on maize yields

Maize is the most widespread crop on arable lands in Croatia. In the 1961-1990 period it was grown on about 0.5 million hectares or near a third of arable land areas of the country (Kovacevic and Josipovic, 2001). In the 1996-2000 maize harvested areas in Croatia were 375 979 ha year-1 (27% of arable lands) with grain yield 5.17 t ha-1. In general, high degree of maize yield variation in Croatia among the years (for example from 3.93 to 5.88 t ha-1 for 1996-2001, according to data of State Bureau for Statistics) is mainly affected by weather characteristics during individual growing season. Precipitation quantities and their distribution during growing season are considerable factor of maize yields. Under environmental conditions of the Eastern Croatia, low maize yields are usually in close connection with precipitation shortage, especially during two summer months, July and August (Kovacevic and Josipovic, 2001, 2004). An additional supply of water in critical stages of maize gowth by irrigation is important factor of overcoming drought stress and achievement of high yields. However, using of water resources for irrigation in Croatia is very low because only 0.5% of its arable lands are under irrigation (Josipović et al. 2003).

maize grain yield; irrigation

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