Main Article Content
Abstract (in English)
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of irrigation cut-off at critical growth stages on grain yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.) under the climatic conditions of Samangan province. Given the limited research conducted in the country on maize sensitivity to water stress and irrigation interruption, this study is of considerable importance. The experiment was carried out in 2024 at the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Samangan University, using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications and four treatments: full irrigation (control), irrigation cut-off at tasseling, silking, and grain filling stages. Morphological and yield-related traits including plant height, ear length and diameter, number of grains per ear, 100-grain weight, grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index were measured. The results showed that irrigation interruption has a significant effect on most of the evaluated traits. The greatest reduction in grain yield (56.5%) occurred when irrigation was stopped at the silking stage, while the highest reduction in grain number per ear (42.0%) was also observed at this stage. The 100-grain weight decreased by 44.3% when irrigation was interrupted during grain filling. Plant height and ear length decreased by 17.8% and 26.8% at tasseling and silking stages, respectively. The harvest index also showed a 40.6% reduction when irrigation was withheld at the tasseling stage. Overall, the tasseling and silking stages were identified as the most sensitive growth phases of maize to water stress, whereas irrigation cut-off at the grain filling stage had a relatively smaller impact on yield components. The findings emphasize the necessity of precise irrigation management during critical growth stages to avoid substantial yield losses. Future studies are recommended to focus on evaluating drought-tolerant genotypes and the use of mulching or plant growth regulators to mitigate water stress impacts.