Maize Yield and Quality as Affected by Salicylic or Ascorbic Acids under Irrigation Regimes

Abstract

As maize farmers in dry and semi-dry areas must irrigate the crop with inadequate water, suitable methods should be implemented to address the challenges of water scarcity. Thus, the current study assessed the potentiality of salicylic (SA) and ascorbic (AsA) acids in enhancement of maize tolerance against drought. In a strip-plots design, three irrigation regimes (70, 85 and 100% of crop water requirements, designated asI70%, I85% and I100%, respectively) and three anti-stress treatments (SA 150 mg L-1, AsA 150 mg L-1, and check treatment, CK) were applied in three replicates. Findings revealed that under moderate or severe drought, SA and AsA showed enhancements in plant pigments surpassing the corresponding control. Reduction in proline concentration was observed under I70% and I85% via application of SA or AsA. Both SA and AsA recorded the highest values of 100-grain weight and grain yield under severe drought. The most effective combinations for achieving the highest values were I70% × SA (for crude protein percentage) and I100% × SA or AsA (for carbohydrates percentage). It can be concluded that maize farmers in arid climates should apply salicylic acid (150 mg L-1) to their crops to achieve satisfactory yield and quality, especially during moderate deficit irrigation.