Assessment of strip tillage systems for maize production in semi-arid Ethiopia: Effects on grain yield, water balance and water productivity

2012 ◽  
Vol 47-48 ◽  
pp. 156-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melesse Temesgen ◽  
H.H.G. Savenije ◽  
J. Rockström ◽  
W.B. Hoogmoed
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Assessment of strip tillage systems for maize production in semi-arid Ethiopia: effects on grain yield and water balance

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 2229-2271 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Temesgen ◽  
J. Rockstrom ◽  
H. H. G. Savenije ◽  
W. B. Hoogmoed
Keyword(s):  
Water Balance ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Strip Tillage ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract. The traditional tillage implement, the Maresha plow, and the tillage systems that require repeated and cross plowing have caused poor rainfall partitioning, land degradation and hence low water productivity in Ethiopia. Conservation tillage could alleviate these problems. However, no-till can not be feasible for smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions of Ethiopia because of difficulties in maintaining soil cover due to low rainfall and communal grazing and because of high costs of herbicides. Strip tillage systems may offer a solution. This study was initiated to test strip tillage systems using implements that were modified forms of the Maresha plow, and to evaluate the impacts of the new tillage systems on water balance and grain yields of maize (Zea mays XX). Experiments were conducted in two dry semi arid areas called Melkawoba and Wulinchity, in the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia during 2003–2005. Strip tillage systems that involved cultivating planting lines at a spacing of 0.75 m using the Maresha plow followed by subsoiling along the same lines (STS) and without subsoiling (ST) were compared with the traditional tillage system of 3 to 4 times plowing with the Maresha plow (CONV). Soil moisture was monitored to a depth of 1.8 m using Time Domain Reflectometer while surface runoff was measured using rectangular trough installed at the bottom of each plot. STS resulted in the least surface runoff (Qs=17 mm-season−1), the highest transpiration (T=196 mm-season−1), the highest grain yields (Y=2130 kg-ha−1) and the highest water productivity using total evaporation (WPET=0.67 kg-m−3) followed by ST (Qs=25 mm-season−1, T=178 mm-season−1, Y=1840 kg-ha−1, WPET=0.60 kg-m−3) and CONV (Qs=40 mm-season−1,T=158 mm-season−1, Y=1720 kg-ha−1, WPET=0.58 kg-m−3). However, when the time between the last tillage operation and planting of maize was more than 26 days, the reverse occurred. There was no statistically significant change in soil physical and chemical properties after three years of experimenting with different tillage systems.

scholarly journals Influence of Planting and Irrigation Levels as Physical Methods on Maize Root Morphological Traits, Grain Yield and Water Productivity in Semi-Arid Region

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Hanamant M. Halli ◽  
Sanganabasappa Angadi ◽  
Aravind Kumar ◽  
Prabhu Govindasamy ◽  
Raghavendra Madar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Root Length ◽  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Root Surface ◽  
Root Surface Area ◽  
Planting Methods ◽  
Irrigation Levels ◽  
Semi Arid

Assessing the impact of planting methods and irrigation levels is needed to determine the effects on maize root morphological traits, grain yield, and water productivity in semi-arid regions. A study was initiated on maize (Zea mays L.) from 2015 to 2016, including three planting methods [i.e. broad bed and furrow (BBF), shallow and narrow furrow (SNF) and deep and wider furrow (DWF)] and four irrigation levels [i.e. irrigation once in ten days (I10D), irrigation at 40% depletion of available soil moisture (DASM, I40), irrigation at 50% DASM (I50) and irrigation at 60% DASM (I60)] arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. Results reveal that the DWF method has increased root length, root volume, root surface area and root dry weight compared to SNF and BBF (p < 0.05). DWF and SNF resulted in higher grain yield than BBF, although the DWF grain yield was non-significant with SNF but resulted in 22.40% higher irrigation application. Irrigation at I50 had a significant effect on root length, root surface area, and grain yield, regardless of planting methods. Therefore, where irrigation has been a costly and limited farm input, the practice of SNF and deficit irrigation (I50) could be a viable option for greater water saving and higher grain yields of maize.

scholarly journals Durum Wheat Yield and Grain Quality in Early Transition from Conventional to Conservation Tillage in Semi-Arid Mediterranean Conditions

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 711
Author(s):  
Karima Djouadi ◽  
Arezki Mekliche ◽  
Sonia Dahmani ◽  
Nadia Insaf Ladjiar ◽  
Yasmine Abid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Durum Wheat ◽  
Yield Components ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Tillage System ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Semi Arid ◽  
Early Transition

In semi-arid Mediterranean areas, there is a growing interest in adopting conservation tillage practices for their advantages in improving soils fertility, reducing production costs, and stabilizing crop yields. The aim of this study conducted in the 2019 and 2020 seasons was to investigate the effect of three tillage systems—conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), and no-tillage (NT)—on grain yield, yield components, and quality indices of a durum wheat crop (Triticum durum Desf. cv. Simeto) grown in monoculture in semi-arid conditions of Northern Algeria. Tillage systems had a significant effect on the average yield of the 2 years, with NT being 28% and 35% higher than CT and MT, respectively—a trend even more evident in the second year under observation. The superiority of NT (p < 0.001) in the second year (2020) is mainly due to the increased spikes density (318.93 spikes m2 under NT vs. 225.07 and 215.20 spikes m2 under MT and CT, respectively). Yield components and quality parameters were more affected by climatic conditions than by tillage treatments. The number of kernels per spike being the most affected by water and heat stresses occurred in 2020 season. A decrease of 51% is noted regardless of the tillage treatment, which negatively affected the grain yield in that year (1.9 vs. 1.3 t ha−1 in 2019 and 2020, respectively). This stress also induced an increase in grain protein content, but a reduction of its weight. The results of this study conducted in the early transition from conventional to conservation tillage show that durum wheat grown under NT results in higher grain yield than the other systems in the specific operative conditions of the study region, providing better seed emergence and better spikes density, especially in the dry years. Moreover, the quality parameters are more affected by weather conditions than by the tillage system—with an interaction year × tillage system significant only for the grain.

scholarly journals Modeling the Effects of Irrigation Water Salinity on Growth, Yield and Water Productivity of Barley in Three Contrasted Environments

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Zied Hammami ◽  
Asad S. Qureshi ◽  
Ali Sahli ◽  
Arnaud Gauffreteau ◽  
Zoubeir Chamekh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Stress ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Arid Region ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Salt Tolerant ◽  
Irrigation Water Salinity ◽  
Salinity Levels ◽  
Semi Arid

Freshwater scarcity and other abiotic factors, such as climate and soil salinity in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, are affecting crop production. Therefore, farmers are looking for salt-tolerant crops that can successfully be grown in these harsh environments using poor-quality groundwater. Barley is the main staple food crop for most of the countries of this region, including Tunisia. In this study, the AquaCrop model with a salinity module was used to evaluate the performance of two barley varieties contrasted for their resistance to salinity in three contrasted agro-climatic areas in Tunisia. These zones represent sub-humid, semi-arid, and arid climates. The model was calibrated and evaluated using field data collected from two cropping seasons (2012–14), then the calibrated model was used to develop different scenarios under irrigation with saline water from 5, 10 to 15 dS m−1. The scenario results indicate that biomass and yield were reduced by 40% and 27% in the semi-arid region (KAI) by increasing the irrigation water salinity from 5 to 15 dS m−1, respectively. For the salt-sensitive variety, the reductions in biomass and grain yield were about 70%, respectively, although overall biomass and yield in the arid region (MED) were lower than in the KAI area, mainly with increasing salinity levels. Under the same environmental conditions, biomass and yield reductions for the salt-tolerant barley variety were only 16% and 8%. For the salt-sensitive variety, the biomass and grain yield reductions in the MED area were about 12% and 43%, respectively, with a similar increase in the salinity levels. Similar trends were visible in water productivities. Interestingly, biomass, grain yield, and water productivity values for both barley varieties were comparable in the sub-humid region (BEJ) that does not suffer from salt stress. However, the results confirm the interest of cultivating a variety tolerant to salinity in environments subjected to salt stress. Therefore, farmers can grow both varieties in the rainfed of BEJ; however, in KAI and MED areas where irrigation is necessary for crop growth, the salt-tolerant barley variety should be preferred. Indeed, the water cost will be reduced by 49% through growing a tolerant variety irrigated with saline water of 15 dS m−1.

scholarly journals Adaptive Agricultural Strategies for Facing Water Deficit in Sweet Maize Production: A Case Study of a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Region

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 3285
Author(s):  
Lea Piscitelli ◽  
Milica Colovic ◽  
Adel Aly ◽  
Mohamad Hamze ◽  
Mladen Todorovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Deficit Irrigation ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Maize Production ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Challenging Environment ◽  
Semi Arid

Maize is a crucial global commodity, which is used not only for food, but also as an alternative crop in biogas production and as a major energy-supply ingredient in animal diets. However, climate change is jeopardizing current maize production due to its direct impact on weather instability and water availability or its indirect effects on regional climate suitability loss. Hence, new areas for sweet maize cultivation should be considered in the future. Therefore, this study focuses on the possibility of producing maize in a challenging environment in Southern Italy considering rainfed cultivation and two irrigation regimes (full and deficit). The experiment was conducted during two subsequent growing seasons under semi-arid Mediterranean climate conditions. The overall results indicated a significant difference in biomass and yield between irrigated and non-irrigated treatments, and between full and deficit irrigation. Sweet maize cultivated under deficit irrigation gained less biomass than under full irrigation and its development and fruit maturation were delayed. Under deficit irrigation, the plants gave lower yields and a higher percentage of the panicle weight consisted of kernels. Irrigation water productivity was higher for deficit than for full irrigated treatment. These findings indicate the feasibility of sweet maize production in semi-arid areas of Southern Italy using adaptive agricultural strategies including deficit irrigation and controlled water stress. Given the importance of maize production, understanding of maize growth and productivity in a challenging environment may support future agricultural programming and thereby contribute e to mitigation of the direct and indirect effects of climate change.

scholarly journals Modeling and Evaluation of AquaCrop for Maize (zea mays L.) under Full and Deficit Irrigation in Semi-Arid Tropics

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Roja ◽  
K. S. Kumar ◽  
V. Ramulu ◽  
Ch. Deepthi
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Drip Irrigation ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Coefficient Of Determination ◽  
Surface Irrigation ◽  
Simulation Performance ◽  
Aquacrop Model ◽  
Model Efficiency ◽  
Semi Arid

FAO AquaCrop is a simulation model that predicts the effects of soil, climate, water and crop growth on water productivity, yield and its attributes of various crops. In the present study, performance evaluation of AquaCrop model for maize was assessed for rabi maize during 2015 at Water Technology Centre, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. The experiment was laid in a randomized block design with eight treatments in three replications. The treatments comprised of surface and drip irrigation schedules based on Epan viz., surface irrigation at 0.6 IW/CPE ratio (T1), 0.8 IW/CPE ratio (T2), 1.0 IW/CPE ratio (T3), 1.2 IW/CPE ratio (T4), drip irrigation at 0.6 Epan (T5), 0.8 Epan (T6), 1.0 Epan (T7) and 1.2 Epan (T8). The model was evaluated using crop data resulted from the experiment under varying water application methods and levels. Simulation performance was assessed with statistical parameters viz., statistical co-efficient of determination (R2), prediction error (Pe), model efficiency (E), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). The model results are in quite agreement with practical values for grain yield, biomass and water productivity with model efficiency of 0.99, 0.92 and 0.71, coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.90, 0.91 and 0.93 with an RMSE of 0.24, 0.10 and 0.05, respectively. The model prediction errors in simulation of grain yield, biomass and water productivity under all treatments ranged from 1.4% to 11.9%, 1.4% to 16.1% and 4.85% to 25.9%, respectively. The highest and lowest prediction accuracy for grain yield, biomass and water productivity were in drip irrigation at 1.2 Epan and surface irrigation at 0.6 IW/CPE ratios. It is inferred that FAO AquaCrop model is suitable for predicting grain yield, biomass, water productivity and green canopy cover with acceptable range of under and over predictions for maize in semi-arid tropical climate.

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