Different water content and soil amendment effect on water use efficiency in maize growth
Burhanuddin Rasyid, Christanto Lopulisa, Hazairin Subair, and Masria

Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University

Abstract

Soil-water interactions and its management is a serious issue in water availability for plant cultivation, especially in the water-scarce area. The objective of this study is to determine the water use efficiency of maize which is cultivated in vertisol soil with different water content and soil amendment application. The experiment was designed in four-level water content of field capacity (FC) vis., 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%., and three treatments of soil amendment (control, biochar, and zeolite addition). Data was collected in terms of water content dynamics (water use efficiency, crop water consumption), and dry matter weight. Results found that biochar application had a significant effect on all parameters evaluated compare to control and zeolite. In the combination with treatments, there is no significant effect of soil amendment and control with 70% and 80% FC treatments to plant dry weight. The various value was also observed in crop water consumption with a significant effect in soil amendment on 100% and 70% FC, conversely, there is a no different effect in 80% and 90% FC. Water use efficiency was affected by the soil amendment but it showed differences in treatment of water content level. All results of this study, therefore, concluded that soil amendment and water content management need to be combined in support plant growth in the area with water scarcity become the limiting factor.

Keywords: Water content, soil amendment, water use efficiency, biochar

Topic: Biodiversity and Climate Change