A field experiment was carried out on Maize (Zea Mays L.) grown on a sand soil during 2017 season to assess implications of N rates and irrigation water on yield and water consumption. The design was a factorial randomized complete block involving two factors: Factor W: 3 irrigation treatments as % of an Etc of 6588 m3 ha-1, i.e. 100% (W1), 80% (W2) and 70% (W3). Factor N: 3 N rates as % of a recommended 310 kg N ha-1,i.e.100% (N1) ,80% (N2) and 70% (N3). Grain yields (Mg ha-1) ranged from 2.80 (W1N3) to 4.48 (W2N2). Fertilizer N recovered in grains+stalks+leaves ranged from 5.4 % (W2N1) to 16.5% (W2N3). N use efficiency (kg grains kg-1 N) was 6.3 (W1N2) up to 18.6(W3N1). Water utilization efficiency (kg grains m-3 water) was 0.43 (W1 N3) to 0.84(W3 N3). High N and water use efficiency on sandy soils, must be by balanced combination water and N , and the general trend showed 5270 m3 water and 248 kg N per hectare (representing 80% of officially recommended inputs of each) |
