Interactive Effects of Drip Irrigation and Nitrogen Fertilization on Wheat and Maize Yield: A Meta-analysis

Population growth and climate change are pushing the need for sustainable food production and reduced water usage in agriculture due to limited water resources. Irrigation and fertilization have been proposed to improve crop water and nutrient utilization and potentially sustain or boost yields with less water, but its effect on crop yield can vary widely. This study conducted a meta-analysis to examine the effects of climate, soil conditions, and agricultural practices on maize and wheat yields in field conditions, especially when irrigation and nitrogen fertilization are used. The researchers used systematic literature searches to gather data on grain yields for maize and wheat from peer-reviewed publications available on Web of Science and Google Scholar. In summary, the meta-analysis of 24 peer-reviewed studies, which included a total of more than 706 observations, revealed that the application of irrigation and fertilization resulted in a respective yield increase of 9.20