Summary:

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of four fertigation levels (25, 50, 75 and 100% of fertilizer dose, 240:100:200 kg N:P:K ha-1) and to compare with conventional practices (CP). The fertigation levels F1 25% of total fertilizer (60:25:50 kg N:P:K ha-1) treatments, F2 treatment is 50% of total fertilizer (120:50:100 kg N:P:K ha-1), F3 treatment is 75% of total fertilizer (180:75:150 kg N:P:K ha-1), F4 treatment is 100% of total fertilizer (240:100:200 kg N:P:K ha-1). The experiment was conducted during 2012 summer (from 20 June to 15 September) under the field conditions in the Menzilat soil series (Typic Xerofluvents) which is located in the East Mediterranean coastal part of Turkey. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized-block with three replications. The maize plant (Zea mays L.) was sown as second crop following with wheat cultivation. The maize yield was higher in F3 fertigation level treatment (12.47 Mg ha-1) compared to the other treatments. Lowest yield was recorded in F2 (8.45 Mg ha-1) treatment. The results shown that the half of the fertilizer application with conventional practices and the other half with fertigation are more efficient under Menzilat soil series conditions. For future, it is important to see the long term effect of fertigation on soil nutrients dynamic under the Mediterranean soil conditions.