Factors influencing maize stemflow in western Liaoning, China

Abstract Stemflow (SF) is an important source of water for maize ( Zea mays L.) growing in arid areas, and is very important for agricultural water management. However, the results of previous studies in different regions are quite different. There is also a lack of in‐depth research on the SF process of maize at each growth stage. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of rainfall characteristics and maize morphology on SF during the entire maize‐growing period, quantify the stemflow rate (SR) in western Liaoning, analyze the differences in the maize SF process during different growing periods, and establish a multiple regression model for the different growth stages to predict SF. The results showed that the SR in the study area was 12.62%–43.44% during the 28 rainfall events from 2015 to 2016, and the mean SR was 32.80%. The mean SR during the jointing, tasseling, and mature stages were 24.10%, 42.72%, and 35.37%, respectively. SF generally increases with increased precipitation, and with an increase in the leaf area index, but the effects of various factors on SF differed between the early (jointing) and later stages (tasseling and maturity) of maize growth. A multiple regression model of the different growth stages was established to better predict SF in the research region. This study is significant as it improves local farmland water cycle theory and improves the efficiency of irrigation water. In the next step, the effects of leaf angle and canopy coverage warrant further investigation.