To clarify the optimal irrigation amount for high-yield and efficience of maize in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China, in this study, experiments were initiated at the experimental base of the Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, taking Guangde 5 as the experimental material, five irrigation treatment including 315 m3/ha(D1), 645 m3/ha(D2), 945 m3/ha(D3), 1 275 m3/ha(D4), and 1 605 m3/ha(D5) were set with the rainfed control(CK), the effects of irrigation amount on agronomic traits and water use efficiency of maize were systematically analyzed. The results showed that irrigation significantly influenced plant height, dry matter accumulation, and leaf area. Plant height at maturity in 2020 was the highest under D5, reaching 313.46 cm, which was 1.91%–26.13% higher than that of the other treatments. Across the two years, leaf area under D3 was 19.36%–37.22% and 20.74%–28.52% higher than that of the other treatments, respectively. D4 achieved the highest economic yield in both years, reaching 16 952.90 kg/ha and 14 282.42 kg/ha in 2019 and 2020, respectively, which was 6.57%–77.21% higher than that of the other treatments. Its water use efficiency was 27.81 kg/(mm·ha) and 38.58 kg/(mm·ha), respectively, which was 4.55%–61.28% higher than that of the other treatments. The water use efficiency of D5 was significantly lower than that of D4. In summary, considering regional precipitation and practical irrigation conditions in fields, an irrigation amount of 1 275 m3/ha was recommended for maize production to achieve high yield and improved water use efficiency simultaneously in the agro–pastoral ecotone of northern China, thereby realizing water–saving, high–yield, and high–efficiency.
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