Effect of type of seedbed, type of irrigation, and of a mulch on seedling emergence, growth and yield of maize (Zea mays).

Abstract

A field experiment is described where maize was grown on flat bays or raised beds of Lemnos loam, with or without a mulch, and irrigated by flood, spinklers or furrows. Mulched beds irrigated by furrow dried more slowly after irrigation than did unmulched soils or soils irrigated with sprinklers. Sprinklers hastened emergence and increased plant height and yield, when compared with irrigation by capillarity from shallow water in furrows. Also, with unmulched treatments irrigated by sprinklers, the yield was higher with raised beds than with a flat bay.