Frequency and amount of irrigation for maize in western Nigeria

This study was designed to investigate the frequency and amount of irrigation needed for maize in westerń Nigeria. The investigation indicated that about 330 mm of water either from irrigation or from well distributed rainfall is sufficient to produce a good crop of maize utilizing an irrigation frequency of 7 days. For good maize yields, soil moisture in the root zone should be maintained at a high level throughout the growing period. This avoids moisture stress and permits easy nutrient uptake by the plant, resulting in higher yields. Crop water use efficiency increased as the soil moisture level increased. A moisture level of approximately 70% of field capacity was sufficient to produce a good yield.