IMPACT OF SOME IMPROVED SURFACE IRRIGATION SYSTEM an‎d NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON SOME WATER RELATIONS an‎d PRODUCTIVITY OF MAIZE CROP AT NORTH DELTA

To evaluate some modern surface irrigation systems and their effects on some water relations and nitrogen use efficiency on maize crop, a field experiment was conducted at El-Hamoul District, Kafr Elshiekh Governorate at North Delta. The experiment included traditional surface irrigation, alternative surface furrow irrigation, gated pipes and alternative gated pipes furrow, with three nitrogen treatments (0,101 and 135 Kg fed-1). The main obtained results could be summarized as follows: Using gated pipes method for irrigating maize crop resulted in less amount of water applied compared to traditional surface method. On the other hand, gated pipes technique saved irrigation water by 19.5 and 31.4 % for alternative gated pipe technique and gated pipe technique, respectively compared to traditional surface irrigation. This method realized the lowest value of actual water consumptive use ,improved water application efficiency and water distribution efficiency compared to traditional irrigation method There is no effect on maize yield due to different irrigation systems used in this study. Whereas, grain yield was increased by 110.9 % and 85.5% for the N recommended dose and 75% of the recommended dose, respectively over control treatment (0 Kg N Fed-1). It can be observed that alternative furrow irrigation by gated pipe achieved the highest grain and stalk yield followed by gated pipes under the highest nitrogen application rate. Nitrogen use efficiency and N recovery % was increased with increasing N level. The highest value of N recovery % was found under alternative gated pipe systemand the N recommended dose.