Drip irrigation for Corn

Corona Agronomy Seminar-

Netafim Turkey 2021
Gidi Zelichover
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Agenda
 Introduction
 Corn Physiology- Growth Stages and
root structure
 Genetics and seeding
 Irrigation and fertilization
 Optional drip solutions
 Manure management solution
 Summary

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 Over 50,000 hectares of Netafim's
drip irrigation equipment sold
annually for corn

20,000ha of new 10,000-15,000 35,000-40,000

installations, hectares of hectares of on-
30,000ha of repeat subsurface drip surface drip
business irrigation (large (small-medium
farms new farms & repeat
installations) business)

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Corn- A global crop
Distribution:
Latitude : 550 N (Canada and Russia) to 400 S (Argentina)
Altitude : 4200 m > MSL in Bolivia to 400 m < MSL in Dead sea, Israel

55° N

0°

40° S

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Global production

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A wide range of growing conditions

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A wide range of growing conditions
• Grow well on wide type of soils (from the
South African sea sand to the Italian clay)
• Performs best on deep well drained
loams and silt loams having adequate
organic matter and available nutrients 120

100

Corn Yield (% of Ymax)

• Ideal soil pH – 7.5 to 8.5 (range of 5.5-9) 80

60

• Moderate sensitivity to salinity. 40

20

0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
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Main corn types
• Grain (Dent, Waxy) Corn
• Silage Corn (animal feeding,
energy)
• Sweet Corn
• Pop Corn
• Seed production Corn
Corn Physiology

1. Roots
2. Tiller
3. Leaves of the side branch forming husks
4. Rudimentary ears
5. Female inflorescence- Silk
6. Numerous styles forming the silks
7. A pair of young female spikelets and associated
cupule
8. A single style, called silk, with adhering pollen grains
9. Male inflorescence, Tassel
10. A pair of male spikelets with three anthers dangling
from the upper floret

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 Corn Physiology
Vegetative Stages Reproductive Stages
VE emergence R1 silking

V1 first leaf R2 blister

V2 second leaf R3 milk

V3 third leaf R4 dough

V(n) nth leaf R5 dent

VT tasseling R6 physiological maturity

Each specific V or R stage is defined only when 50% or

more of the plants in the field are in or beyond that
stage.
The leaf is mature and counted when the collar is visible
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 Corn Physiology
Vegetative stages
VE: emergence of the shoot from the soil.
V1: lowest leaf has a visible collar; this leaf has
a rounded tip, unlike subsequent pointed leaves.
V2: two lowest leaves have a visible collar.
V5-V7- The growing point is above ground. Ear
shoots and tassel are initiated. The potential
row number is determined and, although
strongly influenced by genetics, can be reduced
by stress.
V12–V16: Potential kernels per row are
determined but can be reduced by stress.
V(n): “n” leaf collars present; there are 17 to 22
V stages before tassel emergence.
VT: lowest branch of the tassel is visible.
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Reproductive stages
R1 (silk): silk is visible, pollination accrue.
R2 (blister): kernels are small and white; the
endosperm (kernel fluid) is clear.
R3 (milk): kernels are yellow with milky white
fluid, high sugar content.
R4 (dough): kernel contents are pasty as starch
accumulates.
R5 (dent): most kernels are dented due to the
starch hardening at the top of the kernel. As
maturity progresses, the starch hardens and the
milk line moves toward the cob.
R6 (black layer/physiological maturity): the milk
line is no longer visible; a black layer forms at
the kernel’s attachment, which signifies the end
of dry matter accumulation.
Corn root system

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Corn root system
Aggressive fibrous root system that can reach 2 and even 3 meters I case of a light and
deep soil.
The effective rootzone will concentrate on the top 40cm, especially under irrigated
conditions

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Maturity groups and hybrid selection
Maturity groups have different kinds of classifications, FAO class, DAS, GDD, GDU, Days to
maturity, days to tasseling
The genetics must suit the growing condition, practice, irrigation, and the propose
(grain/silage)
Different maturity groups gives the option to reduce risks. Risk of heat waves during the
critical periods, late V stages and early Rs, risk of frost or rain prior to harvest and more
Quality parameters such as starch content, moisture content, sugars, amino acids becoming
an important parameters because it effects the quality of the feeding or the energy
production. Genetics have the biggest impact on the quality potential
grain grain
Type silage short silage medium silage long grain long Sweet short Sweet long remarks
short medium

total days (to can be longer in case of

80-90 90-110 110-130 90-100 100-120 120-140 75-85 86-95 low temps. Typical to
Black layer) Europe growing
conditions
total GDD 1013 1209 1401 1172 1395 1611 960 1036
fao number 200-400 400-600 650-850 200-400 400-650 650-850
days to common
51 60 64 51 60 64
tasseling classification
 Growing Degree Days- GDD
GDDC GDDF Development stage DAP Date
0 0 Planting 0 06.04
GDD
70 120 VE - Emergence 4 10.04
114 205 V1- First Collared leaf 9 15.04 Base 10 °C
161 290 V2 - Second Collared leaf 13 19.04 Max 30 °C
208 375 V3 - Third Collared leaf 16 22.04 Min 10 °C
256 460 V4 - Forth Collared leaf 19 25.04 GDD = Average daily
303 545 V5 - Fifth Collared leaf 23 29.04 temp minus base temp
893 1607 VT - Tasseling 67 12.06 Example :
913 1643 R1 - Silking 68 13.06
High: 24C
1063 1913 R2 - Blister 77 22.06
1213 2183 R3 - Milk 85 30.06 Low: 12C
1363 2453 R4 - Dough 93 08.07 Average Daily Temp =
1513 2723 R5 - Dent 102 17.07 (24+12)/2=18
1663 2993 R6 – Physiological Maturity 110 25.07 18 – 10 = 8 GDDs
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Growing Degree Days- GDD

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Hybrid trial
DRYLAND DRIP

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 Hybrid trial

18.9 18.7 18.6 20.0

17.7 18.0 17.6 18.1 17.5
17.2 17.4 18.0
16.1 16.6 16.0 16.6
15.2 16.0
14.0
12.0
10.0
Ton/Ha

7.9 7.4 7.9 7.6 7.4

6.5 6.8 6.5 6.9 6.5 8.0
6.2 6.3 6.2
5.4 5.1 6.0
4.0
2.0
0.0
SX 2P AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM AM
74 9V 6 5 6 5 2 8 7 0 2 8 5 1 7 9 6 6 7 1 5 7 9 7 3 8 0 5
66 65
8 63 61 58 18 18 17 14 13 12 12 11 11 08

Variety

Ton/Ha - DryLand Ton/Ha - Drip

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Hybrid trial What are the differences?
• More grains?
• Havier grains?
• Yield
More increase
cobs?
• Higher vegetative growth?

264 Why does it happens?

• Roots size?
• Roots architecture?
205 • Plant
204 strength?
• Leaves surface?
• Leaves architecture angle?
• ? 134
• ? 109 105
• ?
GENETIC…
18.7 16.6 18.9 17.4 16.6 16.1
5.4 6.2 7.4 7.9 7.9
1870AM 5.1 6165AM 6365AM 1138AM 1479AM 6674SX

Ton/Ha - DryLand Ton/Ha - Drip Yield increase %

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Seeding/ Sowing/ planting
Timely planting and hybrid selection is an opportunity
for most good corn growers to increase yields
Optimum planting depth- about 5cm
Optimum Plant density: 70,000 to 100,000/Ha
Potentially, Corn plant can produce more than one cob
but the optimum density will lead to one cob (in most
of the cases)
Common row/ twin row spacing: 70-90cm
exclude narrow seeding, a new trend that can lead to
a better radiation penetration and reduction in
herbicide usage as a result of fast covering
Minimum soil temp for seeding, 8-10°C
Optimum Soil temperature for good field emergence,
15°C 01/22/202
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Hybrid selection- the catalog says all
Corn irrigation

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Sensitive stages
Maize appears relatively tolerant to water
deficits during the early V (up to 5) and late R,
R4-R6. periods
Greatest decrease in grain yields is caused by
water deficits (or waterlogging) during the VT-
R2 that will damage the pollination and will
lead to low grain number per cob (less on
each row)
Severe water deficits during the flowering
period, particularly at the time of silking and
pollination, may result in little or no grain yield
due to silk drying
Water deficit during the ripening period has
little effect on grain yield
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 Corn irrigation

Total water demands can get to 800mm per season and more
In rainy areas the average irrigation application will be about 150mm-350mm
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Corn irrigation

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Sensors for perfection

NETACAP
DELTA T – SM 150T
PROFILE PROBE
Soil moisture sensor for Multi-level soil moisture
both soilless and soil sensor for open field
applications in greenhouse applications. 6 different
and open field depths in a single sensor

NETBEAT WEATHER
IRROMETER
STATION
All-in-one weather Tension meter - soil
station with radiation, moisture sensing by
humidity, temperature, tension
wind and rain gauges
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Sensors for perfection
Installation guidelines Thresholds
The sensors should posits in a location that
will represent the monitored are, Inside the
wetted zone, the active rootzone and In
several depths.
Take in consideration:
1. Dripline position (SDI, OS), install the
sensors 10-15cm away of the dripper.
2. Root zone depth and development
3. Soil structure and profile depth

https://youtu.be/IvqmuUJRFEA

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Sensors for perfection
Corn irrigation models validation analysis
Treatment Treatment Treatment B - Treatment B -
date stage
A, mm A - events Water, mm events

2-18.7.16 VT-R2/3 173 9 133 8

YIELD (Ton/Ha) TREATMENT

18.8 A

15.4 B
Corn fertilization

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Corn nutrients demand
Corn Yield N P2O5 K2O
Yield 25 % 5 75 26 70
Yield 50 % 9 150 52 139
Yield 75 % 14 225 78 209
Yield 100 % 18 299 104 278
Yield 125 % 23 375 130 348
Yield 150 % 27 449 156 417
Yield 175 % 32 525 182 487
Yield 200 % 36 599 208 557

700

600

500

400
kg/ha

300

200

100

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Yield (ton/ha)
N P2O5 K2O
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 n module - introduction
Corn fertilization program
Stage_Name Date Duration_Days N P2O5 K2O grN/day/du
Base_Dressing 0 97 59 106
GE 01/04/2018 7 0 0 0 0
VE-V7 08/04/2018 24 47 16.2 33 196
V8-V12 02/05/2018 13 51.2 9 33.7 394
V13-VT 15/05/2018 18 75.3 13.5 76.4 418
R1-R2 02/06/2018 18 27.7 6.3 28.9 154
R3-R6 20/06/2018 40 0 0 0 0
Total 120 298 104 278
350

300

250

200 202 172

150

100
45
50 97 106
59
0
N P2O5 K2O

Actual_Base_Dressing Actual_Fertilization

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 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS: CORN FERTIGATION
INCREASED PRODUCTION BY 3.25 T/HA UNDER RAINY
CONDITIONS
Corn yield response to population, fertigation and irrigation
)^( Difference Fertigated Irrigated Population
---------------------Ton/ha------------------------ plants/Hectare
3.4T+ 15.2 11.8 80,000
3.4T+ 15.4 12 95,000
3.2T+ 15.5 12.3 110,000
3T+ 15.3 12.3 125,000
3.25T+ 15.35 12.1 Average

 Due to sufficient rainfall, SDI was used primarily for fertigation rather than
irrigation during growth season
 Values are averaged over five hybrids and six replications; all treatments were balanced for water supply, and
received a base application of 30kg-N/ha at planting
 Fertigated areas significantly differed from irrigated areas at a probability level of 0.05
 Research conducted by Prof. Fred Below, University of Illinois at Champaign, 2015
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Irrigation & Fertigation protocol
Irrigation & Fertigation protocol
 Optional drip irrigation systems for corn
8 Water meter
1 Pump

Fertilizer injection 2 Filters

6 units

Main & sub-main

5 pipes

3 Valves Control and

7 monitoring

video on YouTube

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Optional drip irrigation systems for corn
On surface systems SDI systems
1. Seasonal system 1. Full coverage system
2. Multi seasonal system 2. RTK precision practice
3. ECO SDI
 On surface systems
SEASONAL SYSTEM
 Single season recyclable dripperline
 Flexible pipes for main and
submain
 Common configuration: dripline per
two rows - 1.4m -1.92m, Flexnet as
submain
 Life time: 10-15 years (excluding
laterals)

ADVANTAGES
 Low initial investment cost
 Low maintenance requirements
 High flexibility
DISADVANTAGES
 Yearly laterals renewing
 Not suitable to all planting
configurations
 Not suitable to sloppy plots
 On surface systems
MULTI SEASONAL SYSTEM
 Medium-Thick walled multi seasonal
dripperlines.
 Flexible or rigid main + submain pipes.
 Common configuration: dripline per two
rows - 1.4m-1.92m.
 Collected after seasonal use and stored till
following season.
 Lifetime- Submain and laterals 5-10 years,
rest up to 25.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Suitable to sloppy plots  Requires maintenance.
(in case of PC).
 Not suitable for all planting configurations.
 Renew the laterals every
5-10 years.  Labor intensive
 High flexibility
SDI systems
GENERAL FEATURES
 Recommended depth: 25cm-35cm.
 System lifetime: 15-20 years.
 Reduced tillage practice is recommended.
 Optimal water and nutrient efficiency.
 Ability to irrigate sloppy plots in case of PC.
 Highly recommended to use monitoring and controlling.
 Easy access to the field.
 Reduce soil transpiration.
 Reduce weed population.
Water distribution below the surface

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SDI systems
FULL COVERAGE SYSTEM
 Dripline spacing: 1 meter for most of the soils, 0.8-
09m in super sandy conditions.

ADVANTAGES
 Low Operational cost, Zero labor requirements.
 Suitable to all rotational crops.
 Suitable to any planting configurations.
 Precession practice is not a must.
DISADVANTAGES
 Require high initial investment.
 New users can find it complicated
 SDI systems
RTK PRECISION PRACTICE
 Dripline spacing: 1.4-1.9m, depend on the
planting configuration (one lateral per two rows)
 Precession practice is highly recommended
ADVANTAGES
 Suitable to all row crops
 Require Lower initial investment
DISADVANTAGES
 Can be problematic in some of the planting
configurations
 Doesn't suit broadcast seeding crops such as
Alfalfa.
 SDI systems SDI SOLUTIONS
ECO SDI
 Dripline spacing: same as full-coverage or 1:2 configuration
 Precession practice is highly recommended to simplify the
extraction
 FXN as OS sub-main
 No flashing
 Possibility to reduce the thickness and the flow
ADVANTAGES
 Optimal water and nutrients efficiency
 Require Lower initial investment
 Simple and fast installation (can be done by the farmer)
DISADVANTAGES
 Required some annual installation
 Can have a shorter longevity
Custom made solution

Watch SDI
Installation Watch SDI
video Installation video
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Now we can offer the best-fit irrigation solution for our
customer’s specific requirements

Suitable for Don’t own Low Wish to Lack of Small Self- Fast Low
Alfalfa the land CAPEX experience man plots installation installation OPEX
growing availability with drip with power availability
cycle moderate
investment

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Now we can offer the best-fit irrigation solution for our customer’s specific requirements
SDI
On-surface
ECO SDI
Suitable for Don’t own Low Wish to Lack of Small Self- Fast Low
Alfalfa the land CAPEX experience man plots installation installation OPEX
growing availability with drip with power availability
cycle moderate
investment

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Optional drip irrigation systems for corn
System type Full coverage Precision ECO SDI On-surface FXN
SDI practice SDI

Recommended for
first-time user no no yes yes

Portability
no no partial complete
Plot size (ha)
>15 >15 0-200 0-200
Relative CAPEX
2.3x 2X 1.5x x

Relative OPEX
x X 0.2x 10x
System life time 15+ years for all 15+ years for • 20 years for all excluding • 20 years for all excluding
components all components dripperlines dripperlines and FXN
• 5-10 years for FXN • 5-10 years for FXN
• 7-15 years for Driplines- • 1-8 years for Driprline-
according to the type according to type
Maintenance is mandatory!
 Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation

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SDI Installation

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SDI-E
Subsurface Drip Irrigation for
Dairy Effluent Water Application
Netafim’s solutions
1 2
4

SOLID / LIQUID
1 SEPARATION +
MICROFILTRATIO

2 TANK

3 NETAFIM SPINKLIN
DISK FILTRATION
TYPHOON PLUS
4 DRIPPERLINE
Netafim’s solutions

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SDI
IRRIGATED
FIELD

DAIRY

FILTRATION

LAGOON 2

SOLID LAGOON 1
SEPARATOR
Alternatives

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The negative impact

The available spreading

solutions today are not
efficient and have negative
environmental effect

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The negative impact

The available spreading

solutions today are not
efficient and have negative
environmental effect
The massive amount of WW
creates a significant cost
and operational difficulties

Av operational spreading cost

range from 3€-10€/M3 (can be
much more…)

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The negative impact

The available spreading

solutions today are not
efficient and have negative
environmental effect
The massive amount of WW
creates a significant cost
and operational difficulties By a conventional practice from May / June till
after harvest, the crop does not allow field access

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The negative impact

The available spreading

solutions today are not efficient
and have negative
environmental effect
The massive amount of
WW creates a significant
cost and operational
difficulties
The massive amount of WW
creates an economical
difficulties- fines for the farmers
and EU states

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Alternatives
Operational
Cost (irri+ww,
Investment considering Possibility to
METHOD J F M A M J J A S O N D cost 50M3ww/Ha) Comments compete
GUNS 40,000€/50Ha 300€/Ha Low N efficiency High
(20%), dirty leaf,
limited timing, high
environmental effect
TANK No transit 35,000€ 200€/Ha Low efficiency, High
Relevant for 50- Not include limited timing, high
environmental
70Ha irrigation cost
effect

STRIP TILL No transit 80,000€ 400€/Ha High N efficiency, Medium

INJECTOR limited timing, low
Relevant for 50- Not include
environmental
70Ha irrigation cost
effect.

DRIP IRR+ 115,000€/50Ha 500€/Ha High efficiency,

micro filter high timing, clean
Driplines+
leaf
installation
PIVOT+ 160,000€/50Ha 100€/Ha High efficiency, high Low
micro filter timing dirt leaf,
medium
environmental effect

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The benefits

Eliminating the operational spreading cost

Waste management simplification
Efficient use of Digestate/Manure (>90% efficiency)
Using an internal farm resource- No Mineral fertilizers application
Possibility to deliver effluent along all the growing season
Reduce Environmental impact:
Soil compaction
GHG emission
Nitrogen leaching and emission
Labor and energy
Zero mineral fertilizers
Increase yield, quality and energy/milk/meat production
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The benefits
Dramatic reduction of GHG
Gas Emission (kgCO2-eq / ha corn)

Lyfe Circle Assessment CRPA, 2018.

Progetto “Digestato_100% - Sistema integrato innovativo di impiego del digestato in fertirrigazione”.

Programma regionale di sviluppo rurale 2014 - 2020 Emilia Romagna, operazione 16.1.01, Focus Area 4B.

- 47% ton of CO2 comparing to conventional practice

 Results
Median

NITROGEN NITROGEN WATER WATER

USE EFFICIENCY APPLIED USE EFFICIENCY APPLIED YIELD
Tons Yield/Acre/lbs of Nitrogen lbs N Applied Per Acre Tons Yield/Acre/Inch of Water Inch of Water Per Acre Tons Yield/Acre

47% -45% 38% -35% 3%

Corn tools
What makes subsurface drip irrigation
for corn the most profitable solution?
High yields every year
100% land utilization
Drip typically delivers a yield
Drip uniformly irrigates 100% of
range of 15-18 Ton/ha in the
the field. No dead corners or
most consistent way year over
unused plots even on slopes or
year. Regardless of weather
odd shaped fields
conditions.

Maximum production per M3

Maximized production per
water
fertilizer unit
Drip fosters zero evaporation
Drip’s high nutrient application
and run off so it has the best
efficiency ensures maximized
water use efficiency (WUE)
production per fertilizer unit
index
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What makes subsurface drip irrigation
for corn the most profitable solution?

Long-lasting performance Effective weed control

An SDI system can last for up to Drip leaves a drier soil surface,
20 years and more thereby reducing weed growth

Easy operation and

Low energy consumption
maintenance
Drip works with low pressure
Drip systems come fully
and therefore consumes less
automated and allow less
energy for every M3
working hands per hectare

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 Thank you for listening!
Questions?

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