Effect of nitrogen rates on drip irrigated maize grown under deficit irrigation

Nitrogen fertilization management under water limited conditions needs to be refined to save environmental ecosystems and increase economic returns. Two-year field studies in a split-plot design were conducted to investigate the response of maize to different nitrogen rates (N100 = 100, N130 = 130, and N160 = 160 kg N ha−1) under two irrigation levels (100 or 75% of water requirements). Under deficit irrigation, water and N were used more efficiently than normal water supply. N-fertilization of drip irrigated maize grown under deficit irrigation with N160 increased the uptake of N, P and K by 35, 29 and 70% compared with N100. Fertilization of maize grown under deficit irrigation with N160 increased the grain, straw and biological yield and water use efficiency by 50, 14, 22 and 33% compared with N100. Based on the obtained results, 160 kg of N ha−1 is the optimum rate of N for maize irrigated by 75% of water requirements.