SOIL CHARCTERIZATION AND MAIZE (Zea mays L.) EVAPOTRANSPIRATION (ETc) IN OMU-ARAN HUMID GEOLOGICAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

• J T Fasinmirin

• D O Rapheal

• J Lazarus

Development of crop coefficient (Kc) can enhance crop water requirement estimates at specific crop growth stages. However, local Kc data are lacking for maize in Omu-aran. Therefore, this research was aimed at quantifying water use and specific Kc values at different growth stages for maize (Zea mays L.) in Omu-Aran,a sub-humid agro-geological zone of Nigeria. A 60cm diameter and 45cm high drainage lysimeter was designed, constructed from a 2.5 mm thick plastic drum, and installed. CROPWAT 8.0 model was later used to develop the Kc and ETc (crop evapotranspiration) using the local weather data of the study site. Soil physical and chemical properties, moisture content, bulk density, and porosity of the site were determined. Weather parameters such average monthly temperature, wind speed, rainfall and relative humidity etc. were collected from an automatic meteorological station located around the research site. Also, irrigation requirements and scheduling for the crop were determined from the model. The average ETc values were 14.6, 43.75, 60.38, and 38.67.0 mm during the initial, development, mid-season and late-season stages, respectively, and the total ETc was 561.8 mm, while the average Kc values for maize were 0.30, 0.73, 1.29 and 0.91 for the initial, development, mid-season, and late-season stages, respectively. The values obtained are suitable for a successful design and implementation of irrigation programme for maize in the study area and this will eventually mean higher productivity and economic development.

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