Response of Drought Tolerant and Conventional Corn to Limited Irrigation
Declining water levels in the Ogallala aquifer have resulted in an increased number of low-capacity wells, causing producers to switch from irrigated to dryland production. Many low-capacity wells cannot supply peak irrigation water needs for corn during the summer. Emerging drought-tolerant (DT) corn hybrids (both transgenic and those selected through advanced screening techniques) are being marketed as having the potential to minimize yield loss during minor to moderate drought. Combining limited (deficit) irrigation management strategies and DT corn technologies could help producers stabilize yields and incomes with limited water. A knowledge gap exists related to how DT and conventional corn hybrids compare in yield response to different levels of water under the semi-arid climate of western Kansas. The purpose of this study was to compare yield, yield components, and water productivity response of DT and conventional corn hybrid to full and limited irrigation.
Full and deficit irrigation of corn under a lateral move irrigation system at SWREC, Garden City
Publications
Kisekka, I., F. Lamm, and J. Holman. 2015. Response of Drought Tolerant and Conventional Corn to Limited Irrigation. SWREC Agricultural Research. Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service.
Investigators
Collaborators
Dr. Alan Schlegel
This project is funded by the USDA OAP from 2015 to 2016.
