Effect of Irrigation Water Rates and Organic Sources on Soil Fertility, Productivity and Quality of Maize Crop

Abstract

In the summers of 2022 and 2023, two field experiments were held at the Ismailia Agricultural Research Station (30°35'30" N 32°14'50" E), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Egypt. The goals of these work were to find out what happened to the soil's fertility and the quality and quantity of maize grown when different amounts of irrigation water were mixed with organic matter sources such as compost, organic farm waste, and trash from the town. Three replicates were used in the split-plot design of the experiment. According to the acquired data, increasing irrigation water at a rate of 3000 m³ and organic matter sources, along with an increase in the soil's accessible macro-micronutrient contents, resulted in reducing pH and EC (dSm¹). The increase of maize component and quality with irrigated at a rate of 3000 m3 combined by town refuse waste compared to other treatments. When town refuse waste and
irrigation water were applied at a rate of 3000 m³ flowing by 2500 m³, the highest mean values of protein, oil, carbohydrate, and chlorophyll contents in maize plants were observed. In comparison to the control without organic matter sources, the relative increases in mean values for irrigation water of 3000 m³, 2500 m³, and 2000 m³ that combined with various organic matter sources were 11.67%, 11.03%, and 8.51%, respectively. Finally, the use of composted town refuse waste mixed with irrigation water at different levels enhances the quality of sandy soil, water productivity, and soil fertility.