Journal of Tianjin Agricultural University ›› 2025, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (4): 32-38.doi: 10.19640/j.cnki.jtau.2025.04.005

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of water demand and water deficit during the main growth period of maize in Ningxia

Qiu Meijuan, Ge Junzhu, Zhou Peilu, Song Xiaohui, Xu Xiaonuo   

  1. College of Agronomy and Resource Environment, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, China
  • Received:2024-01-17 Published:2025-09-02

Abstract: The study of crop water demand and water deficit can provide a theoretical basis for local agricultural irrigation and effective defense against meteorological drought. In this study, daily observed meteorological data from 1961 to 2017 were used to calculate the precipitation during the main growing periods of maize in Ningxia. The Penman-Monteith formula, recommended by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO), was used to calculate the water requirement during the main growing periods of maize, then the water deficit was calculated and its spatial-temporal distribution characteristics were analyzed. The results showed that from 1961 to 2017, the average precipitation of maize in Ningxia at the sowing to emergence, emergence to jointing, jointing to tasseling, tasseling to milk ripening and milk ripening to maturity periods were 41.4, 32.8, 61.0, and 64.2 mm, respectively. The average maize water demand was 94.6, 87.6, 178.6, and 102.2 mm, respectively. And the average water deficit was 53.2, 54.8, 117.6, 38.1 mm respectively. In the past 57 years, the precipitation of maize in Ningxia showed an increasing trend during the emergence to jointing stage and the jointing to tasseling stage, while showed a decreasing trend during the tasseling to milk ripening stage and milk ripening to mature stage. Overall, the change trend of water demand was inconsistent, but some stations with an upward trend passed the significance test. The water deficit showed a decreasing trend during the emergence to jointing stage, and an increasing trend was observed in most areas during the other growth stages. Overall, the spatial distribution of water deficit gradually decreased from north to south. It can be seen that the northern part of the study area, especially during the tasseling to milk ripening period, has a high demand for irrigation water for maize, so irrigation is necessary to ensure high and stable yield.

Key words: Ningxia, maize water requirement, water deficit, spatial-temporal distribution, Penman-Monteith formula

CLC Number: