THE EVAPOTRANSPIRATIVE DEMAND AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF MAIZE CROP (ZEA MAYS L.) IN THE SEMI-ARID TRACT OF INDIA
Mai ze is an Impo rta nt component o f th e d ry lau d fanning system o f India. In th e present study.d ata fur five years' period for three 51ation s. viz.. New Delhi. Rajendran agar an d Bellary in th e dry farm ing tr act ofInd ia have been iuili zed to und erstand evapotra nspira tive deman d of the crop in relat ion to pan-evaporat ion , andsolar rad iation. Biomet ric cha racte ristic. e.g.. heil:ht ofthe pla nt has also been analysed \'U-U-I';S meteorological facton.' V,lIer use efficie ncy of maul," has also been workedout nnd discu ssed . Th e analysis indica ted th ai th e maize plant uses maximum water during the flowering stage. Th e ETJEP rati ogradu ally in creases fmm germination aua ining a maximum value 8 to 10we eks after sowing.Th is ratio is found 10 besignilican tl)' correlated with the plan t height . The ETIR, curve was found 10 follow a sigm oid patt ern reac hingmaximum during flowering stage. Th e water use efficiency of maize crop vari es ove r wide margins in limeand space.