Midseason Soil Water Recharge for Corn in the Northwestern Corn Belt

摘要

Field experiments were conducted from 1979-82 on a Nicollet clay loam soil to determine the effects of midseason soil water recharge on corn production. Six treatments consisting of timing and amount variables of supplemental water additions were studied. Extensive soil water depletion to 90 cm occured in both 1980 and 81, the water table could not be detected within 200 cm of the soil surface in 1981. Despite these diverse conditions, positive significant grain yield responses to supplemental water were observed in three of the four years. Grain yield resulting from the midseason application of 7.6 cm of water exceeded grain yield with natural precipitation by 1808, 2730, and 1947 kg/ha in 1979, 80, and 81, respectively.