engleski

Irrigation and liming as factors of maize yield in eastern Croatia

Maize is main field crop on arable lands in Croatia. Climatic changes, particularly temperature regime and precipitation quantities and their distribution during growing season, had often adverse effects on maize yield. With that regard, irrigation of maize crops in critical periods is useful with aspect of alleviation yield variations among years. Also, acid soils covering third part of agricultural soils in Croatia (about 832 thousand hectares) and correction of pH by liming is important factor increase and stabilization of yield among years. Aim of this study was review of irrigation and liming effects on maize yield in the eastern Croatia. Region of the eastern Croatia covering 12454 km2 or 22.0% of the state territory. This region is “granary of Croatia” because about 75% of wheat and 50% of maize harvested areas of the country are situated in this region. As affected by irrigation, maize yields in the experiment on Agricultural Institute Osijek since 2000 were increased average for 20%, while under drought conditions of three growing seasons (2007, 2011 and 2012) yield increases were 32%, 36%, and 47%, respectively. Soil improvement by liming by increasing rates of carbocalk (by-product of sugar factory containing about 43% CaO and about 6% of organic matter) up to 60 t ha-1 was also useful management practice, because in two experiments maize yields were increased up to 25% (4-year average). However, for satisfied yield increases for 16% in both experiments was adequate the lowest rate of applied carbocalk in the amount of 15 t ha-1.

irrigation ; liming ; maize yield ; eastern Croatia

nije evidentirano