Different Efficient Responses of Sorghum and Maize Varieties to Different Irrigation Systems

Abstract

Drought is one of the most common abiotic stressors in the agricultural community. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of drought on sorghum and maize seedlings. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a split plot arrangement with three replicates over two years in Isfahan, Iran. Investigational treatments include three-tier drought stress for two varieties of each plant species. The results demonstrate that the highest energy productivity of fresh forage was obtained in the Pegah variety of sorghum (1.49 kg Mj-1) and the lowest was obtained in the Maxima variety of maize (0.52 kg Mj-1).With 60% irrigation, the lowest water productivity of fresh and dry fodder in maize was found in the Maxima variety (8.32 kg m-3) and the 704 variety (2.15 kg m-3). However, sorghum in the Pegah cultivar at 60% irrigation had the highest water productivity when it came to wet and dry fodder, with an average of 25.45 kg m-3 and 7.57 kg m-3, respectively. These results clearly show that in the aspect of energy consumption and production, sorghum was able to optimally convert the consumed energy into more fodder. On the other hand, the Pegah variety in sorghum, having the highest energy efficiency of dry fodder regardless of the amount of water used, was a more suitable plant to choose for planting in areas with water shortage.