The paper is based on the researches carried out in Oradea during 2006-2008 in the following variants: V 1 = Irrigated, without irrigation suspending; V 2 = Irrigated, irrigation suspending in May; V 3 = Irrigated, irrigation suspending in June; V 4 = Irrigated, irrigation suspending in July; V 5 = Irrigated, irrigation suspending in August; V 6 = Unirrigated. The hybrid used: Fundulea 376. Total nitrogen content of the maize grains was determined in the laboratory of the Agricultural and Development Research Station Oradea. In unirrigated maize, soil water reserve on 0-75 cm depth (watering depth) decreased bellow easily available water content (pedological drought) every year: 46 days in 2006; 110 days in 2007 and 76 days in 2008. In the variants with irrigation suspending in the months of the maize irrigation season the pedological drought was presented in these months and a few days in the next month.In the variant with optimum irrigation, water reserve on 0-75 cm depth was maintained between easily available water content and field capacity. Pedological drought was determined every year and the irrigation was also needed. The irrigation determined the increase of the total water consumption and yield gain in comparison with unirrigated variant. Irrigation suspending in different months determined the yield losses very significant statistically. The biggest protein content was registered in the variant without irrigation suspending; the values registered in the variants with irrigation suspending in May, June, July and August and in the unirrigated variant are smaller, with differences statistically assured. There was a direct link between de Martonne aridity index values and water consumption, yield and protein content and an inverse link between pedological drought and yield quantity and protein content. These are the arguments for irrigation opportunity in maize from Crişurilor Plain.The researches were carried out in the project: PN-II-ID-PCE-2008; 1103/2009 ”Study of the relationships in the soil-water-plant-atmosphere system on the land affected succesivelly by excess and deficit of moisture from North Western Romania regarding the improve of the yield quantity and quality”.

maize; drought; yield; correlations; irrigation suspending

Presentation: oral