Sustainability of Soil Physical Properties Using Mushroom Residues and Surface/Subsurface Drip Irrigation Under Different Irrigation Water Levels and Their Impact on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

Ismail, Kawther; Tahir, Hussain Thahir; Alshamary, Wael Fahmi Abdulrahman

doi:10.58928/ku26.17116

	Sustainability of Soil Physical Properties Using Mushroom Residues and Surface/Subsurface Drip Irrigation Under Different Irrigation Water Levels and Their Impact on Growth and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)
Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)
Volume 17, Issue 1, March 2026, Pages 133-147 PDF (1.12 M)
Document Type: Review Paper
DOI: 10.58928/ku26.17116
Authors
kawther ismail^* ¹; Hussain Thahir Tahir²; Wael Fahmi Abdulrahman Alshamary¹
¹soil and water sources college of agriculture university of kirkuk iraq
²soil and water sources college of agriculture university of Kirkuk Iraq
Abstract
ABSTRACT Soil physical properties are critical for agricultural productivity due to their direct and indirect effects on crop yield. Sustaining these properties requires scientific and practical approaches to maintain soil productivity and optimize irrigation efficiency. A field experiment was conducted on a clay-loam soil to study the sustainability of soil physical properties using mushroom residues and surface/subsurface drip irrigation under varying water levels and their impact on maize growth and yield during the autumn season of 2024 at the Agricultural Research Station, University of Kirkuk. The experiment included three factors: Irrigation method surface drip irrigation and subsurface drip irrigation Water stress levels (100%, 65%, 45% of net irrigation depth). Mushroom residue application (with/without 0.2% residue by experimental unit weight). The experiment followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split-split plot arrangement and three replicates. Irrigation was applied at 50% depletion of available water. Key findings: Subsurface drip irrigation reduced bulk density (1.37 Mg m⁻³) and increased mean weight diameter (1.21 mm), total porosity (53.98%), cumulative infiltration (98.5 cm hr⁻¹), plant height (210.41 cm), leaf area (5671.87 cm² plant⁻¹), and total seed yield (11.86 Mg ha⁻¹) compared to surface drip. 100% irrigation level minimized bulk density and maximized soil structural indices and maize yield. Conversely, 45% irrigation increased bulk density and reduced growth parameters. Mushroom residues improved soil physical/hydraulic properties and maize growth: bulk density (1.01 Mg m⁻³), total porosity (57.52%), mean weight diameter (1.60 mm), plant height (227.46 cm), leaf area (5839.84 cm² plant⁻¹), and yield (12.92 Mg ha⁻¹)
Keywords
Physical properties; mushroom residues; subsurface drip irrigation; irrigation levels; total yield; maize

References
[1].FAO.(2003).Irrigation water management.Training Manual.Washington Website://www.fao.org [2].Alshamary, W. F. A., & Noori, N. E. (2024). The study explores the scheduling methods for irrigation water and its role in rationalizing water use in response to climate change. Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences, 15(1), 156-164. https://doi.org/10.58928/ku24.15123 [3].Ali, F. F. F., Daloye, A. M. M., & Azeez, S. N. (2025). Land Use Change and Its Implications for Drought Dynamics in Sulaymaniyah Governorate between 2013-2022. Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences, 16(2), 19-25. https://doi.org/10.58928/ku25.16203 [4].Kheir, A. M. S., Alrajhi, A. A., Ghoneim, A. M., Ali, E. F., & Eissa, M. A. (2022).Deficit irrigation and organic amendments for sustainable wheat production: Impacts on soil properties, root growth, and yield.Agricultural Water Management, 265, 107535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2022.107535 [5].alobaidy, a. s. (2024). The role of the use of some soil enhancers and the type of subsurface drip irrigation tube in some of the physical properties of the soil and the efficient use of water for the eggplant crop under protected farming conditions in Kirkuk governorate. Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences, 15(4), 29-37. https://doi.org/10.58928/ku24.15404 [6].Abd-Elrahman, S.H., et al. (2024). Organic Amendments Enhance Soil Aggregate Stability in Sandy Loam Soils. Soil & Tillage Research, 240, 106015. [7].Al-Ghobari, H.M., et al. (2023). Subsurface Drip Irrigation Efficiency in Arid Zones: A Meta-Analysis. Agricultural Water Management, 289, 108532. [8].Sun, Y., et al. (2024). Optimizing RDI for Maize in Water-Scarce Regions. Irrigation Science, 42(3), 345–359. [9].Hussien, S. E., & Ahmed, K. K. (2023). Response of some maize genotypes traits (Zea mays L.) to Nano NPK fertilizer. Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences, 14(3), 150-159. https://doi.org/10.58928/ku23.14316 [10]. Ahmed, M., Hassan, F. U., & Aslam, M. A. (2022): Water Stress Impacts on Growth, Physiology, and Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.): Implications for Sustainable Production in Water-Limited Environments Field Crops Research 285, 108591 DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2022.108591 [11]. Blake, G. R., and K. H. Hartge. 1986. Particle Density 1. Methods of soil analysis: Part 1—Physical and mineralogical methods methods of soilan 1: 377-382.‏ [12]. Hillel, D., 2013. Fundamentals of soil physics. Academic press. [13]. Haise, H. R.; W. W. Donnan.; j. T. Pheian.; L. F. Lawhan; and D. G. Shckley. 1956. The use of cylinder infiltration to determine the intake characteristics of irrigation soils. U.S.A. D. pul. Ars 7 - 41, 10 p in Jensen, M. E. 1980. Design and operation of form irrigation systems. [14]. Cerdà, A., Lucas-Borja, M. E., Franch-Pardo, I., Úbeda, X., Novara, A., & López-Vicente, M. (2021). The Role of Mulches in Soil and Water Conservation: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Soil & Tillage Research : 213, 105129 DOI: 10.1016/j.still.2021.105129 [15]. Aldulaimy, S. E. H., Salman, A. K., Abood, M. A., and Hamdi, G. J. 2019. Influence of moisture depletion and surface drip irrigation style on some soil hydraulic properties and potato crop. [16]. Di Giuseppe, D., Faccini, B., Melchiorre, M., Ferretti, G., Coltorti, M., Ciuffreda, G., & Zago, A. (2015). Yield and quality of maize grown on a loamy soil amended with natural chabazite zeolitite. EQA-International Journal of Environmental Quality, 17, 35-45.‏ [17]. Abduljabbar, A. S., & Alobeid, A. M. (2016). Evaluating Water Conservation Efficiency of Subsurface Drip Irrigation for Wheat in Arid Regions: Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering: 142(11), 04016048 DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)IR.1943-4774.0001082 [18]. Abdulhassan, Sarah Naeem. (2018). The Use of Zeolite Mineral in Enhancing the Physical Properties of Different Textured Soils and Wheat Plant Growth Master's Thesis College of Agriculture, Al-Muthanna University Iraq [19]. Afrous, A.; M. Pour and S. Ghanad. 2014. Water Use Efficiency (WUE) an Index of optimum water use in Agriculture (Case Study: Southwest of Iran, Dezful). ABR. 5(2):201-202 [20]. Al-Madi, Ali Muhammad Mahdi. (2018). The Effect of Adding Zeolite Soil Amendments and Vertisol on Some Properties of Sandy Soil and the Growth and Productivity of Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Under Different Moisture Levels Master's Thesis College of Agriculture, University of Basrah Iraq [21]. Randy, A.D; M, Felipe; C.A, Marta; C, Ward; R, Wayne; W.B, Bryon; W, Emerson and R, Hartmann (2008). Encyclopedia of Soil Science, pp.30-32. [22]. Vepraskas, M. J. and M. G. Wagger (1990).Corn root distribution andresponse to subsoiling for paleudults having differentaggregatesize. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. [23]. Annabi, M. ;S. Houot ;M. Poitrenaud;J.N. Rampon;H. Gaillard and Y. Le Bissonnais(2014). Effect of organic amendments on soil aggregate stability. Sustainable Organic Waste Management for Enviromental Protection and Food Safety- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254894673 . [24]. Al-Aridhee, A.H.A. and Mahdi, N.T., 2022. Influence of irrigation systems and cover crop on water productivity, and maize growth. Iraqi journal of agricultural sciences, 53(6), pp.1465-1475. [25]. Kirsten, J. F., van der Stoep, I., & Perret, S. R. (2009( Water Flow Dynamics and Root Development in Maize (Zea mays L.) Under Different Irrigation Regimes Agricultural Water Management 96(6), 995-1006 [26]. Kuşçu, H., & Demir, A. O. (2020( Effects of Deficit Irrigation and Organic Mulching on Yield, Water Use Efficiency, and Root Development of Maize (Zea mays L( Agricultural Water Management 241, 106340 DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106340 [27]. Taiz, L. and E. Zeiger.2006. Plant Physiology. 4th Edn. Sinauer Associates, Inc. Publ., Sunderland, Mass achus-AHS. U.S.A. [28]. Al-Dulaimi, Saad Enad Harfoush. (2017). Comparison of the Effects of Subsurface Drip Irrigation and Surface Drip Irrigation on Some Physical Properties of Soil and Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Growth and Yield Anbar Journal of Agricultural Sciences 15(2), 308-316 [29]. Qader, M. S. (2025). Simulating corn yield response, water productivity, and water requirements to deficit irrigation under climate change conditions using the AquaCrop model at the University of Tikrit. College of Agricultural Sciences [30]. Al-Fahdawi, Hamid Zahir Jasim. (2012). Effect of Soil Moisture Tension Levels, Nitrogen, and Phosphatic Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) PhD Dissertation College of Agriculture, University of Anbar Iraq [31]. Abdel-Mouty, M.M.; A.R. Mahmoud; M.EL-Desuki and F.A. Rizk .2011.Yield and fruit quality of Eggplant as affected by organic and mineral fertilizers application.J. Agric. Biol. Sci.Res. 7(2): 196-202. [32]. Gholamin, R., Khayatnezhad, M., Jamaati-e-Somarin, S. and Zabihi-e-Mahmoodabad, R., 2010. Effects of polyethylene glycol and NaCl stress on two cultivars of wheat (Triticum durum) at germination and early seeding stages. Am Eurasian J Agric Environ Sci, 9(1), pp.86-90. [33]. Al-Mousawi, S. J. T. (2021). The effect of certain plant residues and the extent of their softening on the growth and yield of wheat Triticum aestivum L. and certain properties of clay soil. University of Basrah. College of Agriculture.
Statistics Article View: 136 PDF Download: 62