Role of Bacterial Inoculant and Organic Matter in Improving some Soil Physical Properties and Water use Efficiency of Maize under Drought Conditions in Iraq

Abstract

Abstract Field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Research Directorate Research Station, Ministry of Science and Technology in Autumn 2018 to study the role of liquid bacterial inoculant and addition of organic matter in improving physical properties, water consumption and water use efficiency of the maize crop (Zea mays L.) under drought conditions prevailing in Iraq. Bacterial inoculated was added with two levels with, without adding, adding organic fertilizer at three levels (0, 1.5 and 3%) of the soil weight. Irrigation was scheduled when depleting (50, 60 and 70%) of the available water. Water consumption were 584, 437 and 317 mm under (50, 60 and 70%) of available water depletion respectively. The addition of bacterial inoculant and 3% organic matter was significantly superior to treatments at 50 and 60% of available water depletion. Saturated hydraulic conductivity and soil aggregate stability under these two treatments were 1.81 and 1.75 cm h−1 and 0.530 and 0.524% respectively. The grain yield was 12.321 and 12.162 t ha−1 under the above-mentioned treatments respectively. The highest rate of water use efficiency was 2.98 kg m−3 under 60 % moisture depletion, with bacterial inoculant and under addition of organic matter at the level of 3%.