Water Balance of Irrigated and Rainfed Sweet Corn in Weighing Lysimeters

Pásztor, Dávid and Kovács, Györgyi and Szűcs, István and Nagy, Attila and Tamás, János (2026) Water Balance of Irrigated and Rainfed Sweet Corn in Weighing Lysimeters. ACTA AGRONOMICA ÓVÁRIENSIS, 67 (1). pp. 6-30. ISSN 1416-647X

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Abstract

Weighing lysimeters are suitable tools for complex studies of the soil–water–plant–environment system. The precise determination of crop water demand and water-use efficiency (WUE) is essential for irrigation planning. In 2025, two weighing lysimeters (Lx) were used at the University of Debrecen to investigate sweet corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata var. MS Erica) under irrigated (L1) and rain-fed (L2) conditions. Sensors mewasured soil water content and meteorological data. From May to August, precipitation totaled 177 mm, while irrigation amounted to 190 mm and 50 mm in the two treatments, respectively. Cumulative evapotranspiration reached 447.6 mm in L1 and 294.4 mm in L2, with both treatments showing a negative water balance. Dry biomass was 2418 g (L1) and 1588 g (L2), with WUE values of 6.6 and 7.0 g mm⁻¹. The results highlight the trade-off between yield increase and water-use efficiency. The research presented in the article was carried out within the framework of the Széchenyi Plan Plus program, with support from the RRF 2.3.1-21-2022-00008 project.

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