Maize grain yield as affected by the severity of soil erosion under semi-arid conditions and granitic sandy soils of Zimbabwe

2011 ◽  
Vol 36 (14-15) ◽  
pp. 963-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelaide Munodawafa
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Arid Conditions ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Semi Arid

Effect of conservation agriculture on soil properties and maize grain yield in the semi-arid Laikipia county, Kenya.

2022 ◽  
pp. 256-269
Author(s):  
Peter Kuria ◽  
Josiah Gitari ◽  
Saidi Mkomwa ◽  
Peter Waweru
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
Content Assessment ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Maize Yields ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Low and unreliable rainfall, along with poor soil health, is a main constraint to maize production in the semi-arid parts of Kenya that account for over 79% of the country's land area. In the vast county of Laikipia, farmers continue to plant maize despite the predominantly low quantities of precipitation. Participatory farmer experimentation with Conservation Agriculture (CA) was undertaken for six consecutive growing seasons between July 2013 and December 2016 to determine the effectiveness of CA as a method of improving soil properties and enhancing maize yields with the limited rainfall quantities received in these parts of Kenya. The main CA practices tested include chisel tine furrow opening (ripping) and live legume (Lablab purpureus) cover crop, as well as maize stover mulches, all implemented under varying inorganic fertilizer rates. The research was done across 12 administrative locations of Laikipia County where soils are mainly Phaeozems and Vertisols with a clay-loam texture. The research design used was researcher-designed and farmer-managed. In each of the 12 trial sites, participatory farmers' assessments and field days were carried out as a way of outreach to the bigger farming communities around the trial sites. The research findings obtained demonstrated that the use of CA impacts positively on soil properties and is a viable practice for enhancing maize yields in these moisture deficit-prone parts of the country. Soil chemical analysis assessment results showed that CA impacted positively on a number of soil mineral components including organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and pH. Midseason chlorophyll content assessment of the maize crop showed that there was good response to fertilizer application, as well as to mulching with crop residues for soil cover. Maize grain yield data also showed that the use of a CA package comprising chisel tine ripping combined with mulching by plant residues and use of mineral fertilizer resulted in a two- to threefold increase in grain yields above the farmer practice control. Mean maize grain yield in farmer practice plots was 1067 kg ha-1 compared with the CA-treated plot with mineral fertilization that yielded 2192 kg ha-1.

scholarly journals The Effect of Rainfall Characteristics and Tillage on Sheet Erosion and Maize Grain Yield in Semiarid Conditions and Granitic Sandy Soils of Zimbabwe

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelaide Munodawafa
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Rainfall Amount ◽  
Tillage Systems ◽  
Rainfall Characteristics ◽  
Grain Yields ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Sheet Erosion ◽  
Semiarid Conditions

In semiarid regions, rainfall is one of the primary factors affecting soil erosion and crop production under rain-fed agriculture. The study sought to quantify the effect of rainfall characteristics on sheet erosion and maize grain yield under different tillage systems. It was carried out under semiarid conditions and infertile sandy soils of Zimbabwe. Rainfall amount and intensity were recorded every 24 hours, while sheet erosion was measured from four tillage systems (Conventional Tillage (CT), Mulch Ripping (MR), Tied Ridging (TR) and Bare Fallow (BF)). Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown on three tillage systems (CT, MR, and TR). Rainfall amount varied significantly (P<0.001) between seasons (164–994 mm). CT recorded the highest average soil losses (15 t/ha), while MR and TR recorded 1.3 and 1.2 t/ha, respectively. Maize grain yields increased with increasing seasonal rainfall giving yield-responses of 0.9 t/ha (TR) to 1.3 t/ha (MR) for every 100 mm rainfall increment. Overall, treatments didnot differ significantly (P<0.497), except during drier seasons (P<0.025). Regression equations showed that yields can be confidently predicted using rainfall amount and time, withR2values of 0.82 to 0.94. Maize grain yields proved to be mostly dependent on rainfall amount than fertility. The productivity of the soils decreased with increased length of cultivation.

Analysis of the moisture content of maize kernels in over-ripe plants

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 425-430
Author(s):  
T. Árendás ◽  
L. C. Marton ◽  
P. Bónis ◽  
Z. Berzsenyi
Keyword(s):  
Linear Regression ◽  
Moisture Content ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Equilibrium Moisture Content ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Maize Kernels

The effect of varying weather conditions on the moisture content of the maize grain yield was investigated in Martonvásár, Hungary from late August to late September, and from the 3rd third of September to the 1st third of Novemberbetween 1999 and 2002. In every year a close positive correlation (P=0.1%) could be observed between the moisture content in late September and the rate of drying down in October. Linear regression was used each year to determine the equilibrium moisture content, to which the moisture content of kernels returned if they contained less than this quantity of water in late September and harvesting was delayed. In the experimental years this value ranged from 15.24-19.01%.

Superimposition Effect of Film-mulching and Furrow Ridging Culture on Maize Grain Yield and WUE in Loess Plateau

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 268
Author(s):  
Jun-Hong XIE ◽  
Ling-Ling LI ◽  
Ren-Zhi ZHANG ◽  
Qiang CHAI
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Loess Plateau ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Film Mulching ◽  
Maize Grain

Effect of In-Season Nitrogen Management Strategy on Maize Grain Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency

2011 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 152-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
You-Liang YE ◽  
Yu-Fang HUANG ◽  
Chun-Sheng LIU ◽  
Ri-Tao QU ◽  
Hai-Yan SONG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Nitrogen Management ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Grain

Relation of Rubisco to Maize Grain Yield Improvement: Effect of Water Restriction

Crop Science ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 718-722 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Martínez‐Barajas ◽  
C. Villanueva‐Verduzco ◽  
J. Molina‐Galán ◽  
H. Loza‐Tavera ◽  
E. Sánchez‐de‐Jiménez
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Restriction ◽  
Yield Improvement ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Effect Of Water ◽  
Improvement Effect ◽  
Maize Grain

scholarly journals Improvement of Maize Productivity and N Use Efficiency in a No-Tillage Irrigated Farming System: Effect of Cropping Sequence and Fertilization Management

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1459
Author(s):  
Heba S. A. Salama ◽  
Ali I. Nawar ◽  
Hassan E. Khalil ◽  
Ahmed M. Shaalan
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Farming System ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Egyptian Clover ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
N Use

The sequence of the preceding crops in a no-tillage farming system, could interact with the integrated use of mineral and organic nitrogen (N) sources in a way that improves the growth and productivity of the terminal maize crop, meanwhile, enhancing its N use efficiency (NUE). In the current study, six legume-cereal crop sequences, including faba bean, soybean, Egyptian clover, wheat, and maize were evaluated along two experimental rotations that ended up by planting the terminal maize crop. In addition, the effects of applying variable mineral nitrogen (MN) rates with and without the incorporation of farmyard manure (FYM) on the productive performance of maize and its NUE were tested. The field experiments were conducted in a no-tillage irrigated farming system in Northern Egypt, a location that is characterized by its arid, Mediterranean climate. Results revealed that increasing the legume component in the evaluated crop sequences, up to 75%, resulted in improved maize ear leaf area, 1000-grain weight, and harvest index, thus, a higher final grain yield, with the inclusion of Egyptian clover was slightly better than faba bean. Comparing the crop sequences with 50% legume contribution uncovered the positive effects of soybean preceding crop on the terminal maize crop. Substituting 25% of the applied MN with FYM resulted in similar maize yields to the application of the equivalent 100% MN rates. The fertilizer treatments significantly interacted with the crop sequences in determining the maize grain yield, where the highest legume crop contribution in the crop sequence (75%) equalized the effects of the different fertilizer treatments on maize grain yield. The integrated use of FYM with MN in maize fertilization improved the NUE compared to the application of MN alone. Comparing fertilization treatments with similar MN content, with and without FYM, revealed that the difference in NUE was attributed to the additional amount of FYM. In similar conditions to the current study, it is recommended to grow faba bean two years before maize, while Egyptian clover could be grown directly preceding maize growth, with frequent inclusion of soybean in the sequence, this could be combined with the application of an average of 200 kg MN ha−1 in addition to FYM.

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