The Efficiency of Water Used and Solar Radiation to Enhancing Corn Productivity through the Combination of Water Irrigation Management and Below Leaf Pruning on the Dry Climate Area

Abstract

The research of the influence of dose management on water irrigation and Corn’s below leaf prune to the Lamuru productivity in the dry climate area has been done. This research was conducted on the Naibonat Expriment Farm, East Kupang Sub District, Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Timur, from June to October 2011. The area has been used is 72 m x 32 m using Split Plot Design Methods. This research was using two treatments; the first treatment is conducted on the main plot with water irrigation dose given 100%, 80%, 60%, and the dose control is appropriate with the Farmer’s custom. The second is conducted to the Corn’s leaf at the generative phase through with and without leaf pruning on the determined sub main plot. The result has showed that water irrigation dose treatment between 80% and 60% is significant to the Corn’s productivity that is 7.7 ton/ha and 5.3 ton/ha, but not significant to the control (7.0 ton/ha). On the other hand, the treatment with and without leaf prune are not significant to the growth component because the prune is conducted at the generative phase. The Anova test result has not showed the significance between the treatment of with and without leaf prune to the Corn’s productivity. The 80% dose of water irrigation could thrift the water until 842 m3 or 20% per one planting season in one hectare. Meanwhile, the farmer’s custom has lavished of the water until 2.105 m3 or 50% per one planting season in one hectare. Based on the analysis, the optimizing of water irrigation interval is seven times along one planting period which is more efficient than Farmer’s used with fourteen times along one planting period.