Xingzhu Feng

Hainan Institute of Biotechnology, Haikou, 570206, Hainan, China
Author    Correspondence author
Maize Genomics and Genetics, 2025, Vol. 16, No. 5   
Received: 18 Aug., 2025    Accepted: 29 Sep., 2025    Published: 19 Oct., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important food crop in the world, widely used for food, feed and industrial processing. Its growth, development and yield are highly dependent on water supply, especially in areas with insufficient precipitation or unstable climate. This study systematically explored the role of irrigation regulation in different growth stages of maize, focusing on its effects on maize physiological characteristics, yield formation and quality stability. Studies have shown that timely and appropriate irrigation can help improve photosynthetic capacity, promote root development and nutrient absorption, thereby increasing grain yield and water use efficiency. This study compared various irrigation methods such as drip irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and furrow irrigation, and explored the effects of irrigation timing and frequency on yield and resource efficiency. Through case analysis of semi-arid areas in North China and oasis agriculture in Northwest China, the application effect of regionalized and precision irrigation strategies was demonstrated, hoping to provide technical guidance for maize production in different climate zones, improve irrigation efficiency and resource utilization, and achieve the win-win goal of increasing grain production and protecting the environment.

Maize; Irrigation regulation; Water use efficiency; Growth stage; Yield