Soil Water and Nitrogen Balance Study of Maize Using CERES Maize Model in DSSAT
Gurdeep Singh
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
B. A. Lone *
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Sameera Qayoom
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Purshotam Singh
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Zahoor Ahmad Dar
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Sandeep Kumar
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Asma Fayaz
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
K. N. Singh
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Altaf Hussain
Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST), Jammu and Kashmir, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Simulated studies indicated that early sowing i.e 15th April (D1) predicted highest grain yield during all the years from 1986-2013. Under irrigated conditions increasing levels of N predicted increased grain and stover yield from N levels up to 90 kg N ha-1. Under irrigated and mulched conditions increased level of N predicted increase in maize grain and stover yield upto 120 kg N ha-1. Whereas under un-irrigated mulched conditions highest grain and stover yield was predicted at 60 kg N ha-1. Maize yield was also simulated at different sowing dates and in combination with variable spacings and it was predicted that under irrigated condition closer spacing 40 cm × 20 cm at 15th April sowing recorded highest grain and stover yield of maize. Under un-irrigated mulched conditions highest grain yield was predicted at 30th April sowing with spacing 65 cm × 20 cm. Soil water balance under simulation studies indicated that potential ET was recorded comparatively higher with early sowing date than late sowing date under both irrigated un-irrigated mulched conditions. Similar trend was recorded with respect to transpiration under both irrigated and un-irrigated mulched conditions. Simulated soil evaporation was more in wider spacing than closer spacing. Similar trend was recorded with regard to simulated run-off. Predicted nitrate content (final) of irrigated soil decreased where under un-irrigated mulched conditions 15th April (D1) sowing predicted lowest NO3 leaching than later sowing dates. Under un-irrigated mulched conditions leached nitrate was nominal. Nitrogen denitrification was comparatively more under un-irrigated mulched conditions than irrigated condition. It is concluded that DSSAT v 4.5CERES-Maize model is very robust in predicting the growth and yield of maize as influenced by agrotechniques and could be used in wider perspective.
Keywords: DSSAT, ET, run off, N dynamics, simulation