Water use efficiency (WUE) is grately influenced by soil water holding capacity, irrigation interval and also by soil organic matter, especially in draught condition. An experiment was conducted to study the effects of manure application and irrigation interval on growth properties, water need and WUE of maize (Zea mays L.), in Lorestan Province, west of Iran. Experimental design was split plot in randomized complete blocks with three replications in two years. Irrigation treatments were assigned to the main plots and four levels of manure application were assigned to the subplots (0, 20, 40, 60 ton/ha). Irrigation treatment levels were control or what is locally precticed (I_c), and irrigation after 50 (I_(50)), 75 (I_(75)) and 100 (I_(100)) mm evaporation from A class evaporation pan. The required irrigation amount was estimated from soil moisture depletion from field capacity by formula and the estimated quantity was applied. Result from the first and second years experiment indicated that the effect of irrigation treatment and manure application on the grain yields was significant at α =1%. Significant decrease in seed protein (%) at α =1% was observed under the application of 60 Mg ha~(-1) of manure. Seed protein percent significantly increased in water stressed treatment. WUE range in different treatments was about 0.60 to 0.87 kg m~(-3). Minimum WUE was in I_(100) treatment without manure application. For optimum irrigation management and increasing yield and WUE, the suggested irrigation interval is 6 days.
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