Silage Corn Yield, Water Productivity, and Quality Under Different Irrigation Scenarios in Arizona

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the most cultivated crops in the United States, covering about 86.5 million acres, representing about 17% of the total land area (514.93 million acres) devoted to corn worldwide (Our World in Data, 2023). In 2024, corn was cultivated on 70,000 acres in Arizona, with 50,000 acres devoted to silage corn, producing approximately 1,350,000 tons (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2025). Silage corn in Arizona requires a substantial amount of water, especially during the reproductive growth stages (Payero et al., 2006). Depending on weather, irrigation methods, and crop management practices, silage corn may require 16 to 30 acre-inches of water per season (Andales and Schneekloth, 2017) and is typically harvested at the dent, R5 reproductive stage, when whole-plant moisture reaches about 60-70%. Harvesting at this stage maintains silage quality and digestibility while minimizing yield losses (Lauer, 2016; Roth and Heinrichs, 2001). In consideration of water scarcity and the necessity for water conservation, the implementation of deficit irrigation strategies in arid and semi-arid regions, aligned with crop growth stages and their respective sensitivity to water stress, can enhance on-farm management practices by reducing irrigation water consumption, diminishing evaporation losses, minimizing energy consumption, and increasing economic returns from investments in irrigation water supplies (Elsadek et al., 2023, 2025; Elshikha et al., 2024). Furthermore, improving soil quality through accurate estimation of the salt leaching fraction and soil amendments may enhance soil structure and increase water retention capacity, thereby contributing to higher crop yields (Elshikha et al., 2025). on irrigation water management, silage corn yield, water productivity, and quality under different irrigation methods, rates (80% and 100% of calculated crop evapotranspiration, ETc), and soil conditions: A soil amendment (a), Liquid Natural Clay (LNC), provided by the Desert Control Company (https://www.desertcontrol.com, accessed on 20 November 2025), that was evaluated for its effects on soil moisture retention and yield and compared to an unamended control. The findings will guide growers to make informed decisions to enhance silage corn yield, water productivity, and quality in Arizona, USA.