Evaluation of maize production under mobile drip irrigation

Declining water levels in the Ogallala aquifer of the U.S. High Plains necessitate more efficient irrigation technology to sustain agricultural production. A study to evaluate the performance of Mobile Drip Irrigation (MDI) for maize production, in comparison to common center-pivot nozzles (Low Elevation Spray Application (LESA) and Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA)) was conducted. A center-pivot was retrofitted with MDI, LEPA and LESA. Irrigation capacities of 6.3, 3.1, and 1.6 mm/d were considered. Grain yield, water use efficiency, above ground biomass, leaf area index (LAI), and soil water content was compared. Differences in grain yield between irrigation application devices were not significant (p = 0.085), but there were differences between irrigation capacities (p