Effect of nitrogen fertilizer and irrigation different levels on maize yield using APSIM model

Subject Areas : Agroecology Journal

Akram Abbaspour ¹ , Maryam Abbaspour ² , Abolfazl Majnooni Heris ³

1 - Department of Water Engineering University of Tabriz Tabriz, Iran
2 - M.Sc. of Soil Science Islamic Azad University Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
3 - Department of Water Engineering University of Tabriz Tabriz, Iran

Received: 2013-04-18 Accepted : 2014-11-12 Published : 2014-11-22

Keywords: APSIM, Grain yield, Irrigation, Maize, nitrogen,

Abstract :

The studies are needed to investigate the impact of these factors on crop yield and it requires a lot of time and cost. In recent years the agriculture production simulator models such as APSIM for irrigation management and fertilizer are used. These models taking into account several factors such as water management, physical and chemical properties of soil, water and nitrogen in the soil profile that can play an important role in modern agriculture. APSIM simulation model (Agricultural Production Systems Simulator) was first calibrated and validated using field data in 1392 and 1393. These data are including four irrigation levels 20 % more irrigation, equal to crop irrigation requirement, 20% and 40% less than irrigation requirement of maize and nitrogen fertilizer treatments are included 300, 150 and zero kg/ha. The cultivar of maize was hybrid SC704 of the late maturing type of corn varieties under furrows irrigation. APSIM simulation model was evaluated for predicting Maize yield, moisture and nitrogen of soil and by comparing simulated values with the measured data the validity of the model was confirmed. The maximum yield of maize was estimated 14593 kg/ha for irrigation and nitrogen amounts of 1400 mm and 450 kg/ha respectively. Comparing the results of simulation with measured data showed the relative average error (RAE) of soil moisture was in the range of 2-18% and RAE of soil nitrogen was 4-14%.