Abstract

A Field experiment was carried out at the Productivity Farm of El-Abd Ahmed Hayl- Abyan Governorate during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons in order to study the effect of water stress on the productivity of some varieties of maize. The experiment included nine treatments which were the combinations of Three treatments of water stress (normal irrigation , skipping one irrigation after first irrigation elongation stage and skipping one irrigation at milk ripe stage) and Three varieties of maize (Taiz 2, City of Lagos 7931, and Kneja 36).A split– plot design in randomized complete blocks, with four replications, was used. The three local water stress were assigned at random in the main plots and three local cultivars of maize were assigned at random in the subplots, the area of each subplot was (3×4= 12m2). Data were statistically analyzed according with the used design, treatments means were compared using (L.S.D) test at 5% level.
The results could be summarized as follows:
The study showed a significant reducition in both of Grain yield and biological yield (metric tons / ha) with water stress in all of those qualities and the percentage shortage on the (skipping one irrigation after first irrigation elongation stage) treatment (26.12 and 26.45%) and (skipping one irrigation at milk ripe stage) treatment (9.39 and 20.14%) compared with (normal irrigation) in both seasons.Kneja 36 cultivar significantly surpassed on Taiz 2 and the City of Lagos 7931, on grain yield per hectare in both seasons and biological yield in the second season.
Taiz 2 cultivar significantly surpassed Kneja 36 and the City of Lagos 7931 in100-grain weight in both seasons. Interaction between Deprive and cultivares significantly affect (normal irrigation) treatment with Kenja 36 cultivar giving highest values in each of the ear length, proportion of negligence and biological yield (metric tons / ha) in both seasons.
Taiz 2 cultivar with (normal irrigation) treatment which gave the highest values on 100-grain weight in both seasons.