Effect of simultaneous stresses of salinity, water deficit, and deficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on evapotranspiration stress coefficient of corn plants under field conditions

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Soil Engineering and Science, Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Department of Water Science and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

3 Department of Soil Science and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.

4 Department of Water Science and Engineering, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, Iran.

10.22034/sps.2026.71288.1035

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Nowadays, seeking strategies to minimize the consumption of agricultural inputs, including water and fertilizers, while evaluating crop yield variations under real field conditions and simultaneous environmental stresses is of great importance. So, in this research, maize (Zea mays L.) evapotranspiration stress coefficient (Ks) was evaluated under simultaneous salinity, water, and NPK macronutrients deficiency stresses at field conditions.
 
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted in 2022 to simulate the Ks coefficient of forage maize (Sc. 704 cultivar) under field conditions and the simultaneous effects of three abiotic stresses: water, salinity, and fertilizer. In this regard, empirical functions (mathematical-statistical) were determined to predict the evapotranspiration stress coefficient (Ks). The cultivation was carried out at the Aliabad-e- Fashafouyeh Agricultural and Livestock Farm in Hasanabad, Tehran province, using a randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) in a 43 factorial arrangement with three replications. The factors included 1- irrigation at four levels (W0, W1, W2, and W3) providing 100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% of the crop water requirement, respectively; 2- irrigation water salinity at four levels (S0, S1, S2, and S3) with EC of 1.8, 5.2, 8.6, and 10 dS/m, respectively; and 3- fertilization at four levels (F0, F1, F2, and F3) providing 100%, 80%, 60%, and 40% of the plant’s nutritional requirements for NPK macronutrients, respectively. Irrigation levels were controlled using the Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) device, and salinity levels were achieved by mixing local saline well water with fresh non-saline water. The Ks coefficient was calculated from the ratio of the evapotranspiration (ET) of the plant under stress to the ET of the plant under non-stress conditions (control treatment). This coefficient indirectly reflects the crop yield, such that as Ks increases towards one, the yield will also increase.
 
Results
The results indicated that at each level of water stress, the Ks coefficient decreased with increasing salinity and NPK macronutrients deficiency stress. Specifically, under the most severe applied stress (W3S3F3), this coefficient reached 0.38, representing a 62% reduction compared to the control treatment. This trend was also observed under constant fertilizer conditions, and the results showed a decrease in the evapotranspiration coefficient with increased salinity and water stresses. Furthermore, the steepest decline in Ks occurred under water stress conditions, highlighting the significant impact of irrigation water amount on changes in the plant’s Ks coefficient. Consequently, each stress individually contributed to the reduction of the crop water requirement (ETc), among them, the effect of water stress was 56% greater than salinity stress, ranking first in reducing the slope of Ks. The stress of NPK macronutrients deficiency had the least impact on the slope of Ks in the maize plant. Finally, an exponential empirical function with statistical indices of r2, RMSE, ME, EF, and CRM equal to 0.997, 0.005, 0.011, 0.998, and 0.023, respectively, was found to be the most suitable function for estimating Ks based on the percentage of simultaneous salinity, water, and NPK macronutrients deficiency stresses applied to maize.
 
Conclusions
By having the evapotranspiration stress coefficient (Ks), it is possible to determine the actual evapotranspiration of maize (ETc) and estimate the crop water requirement. Undoubtedly, by reducing the volume of applied water under environmental stress conditions, water savings will be achieved while meeting the actual needs of the maize. The results showed that by maintaining crop yield, water productivity and production sustainability can be increased. This approach can serve as a scientific basis for revising traditional irrigation patterns and sustainable water resources policies in forage maize fields under similar conditions.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Soil and Plant Science
Volume 36, Issue 1
December 2026
Pages 61-80

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