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 Effects of improved pigeonpea fallows on biological and physical soil properties and their relationship with maize yield

2021 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-457
Author(s):  
Misheck Musokwa ◽  
Paramu L. Mafongoya
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Improved Fallows ◽  
Soil Macrofauna ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Continuous Maize ◽  
Maize Yields ◽  
Maize Grain

AbstractDeclining soil properties have triggered lower maize yields among smallholder famers in South Africa. Legume trees such as pigeonpea can be used as improved fallows to replenish degraded soils. The objectives of the study were to: (1) examine the effects of improved pigeonpea fallows on enhancing biological, physical soil properties and maize yield responses and (2), analyze the relationship of maize grain yield to biological and physical soil properties after improved pigeonpea fallows at Wartburg, South Africa. Pigeonpea fallows were established in 2015/16 season and terminated in 2017 and subsequently maize was planted. A randomized complete block design replicated three times was used with five treatments: continuous sole maize without fertilizer (T1), natural fallow then maize (T2), pigeonpea + grass—pigeonpea then maize (T3), maize + pigeonpea—pigeonpea then maize (T4), two-year pigeonpea fallow then maize (T5). Improved pigeonpea fallows increased maize yields through improvement in soil macrofauna species abundance, richness and diversity, aggregate stability, infiltration rate. Pigeonpea fallows increased maize yield by 3.2 times than continuous maize without fertilizer. The maize grain yield (3787 kg ha−1), was the highest on two-year pigeonpea fallows while continuous maize without fertilizer had the least (993 kg ha−1). There was a significant positive correlation between soil macrofauna indices and physical soil properties to maize yields. Smallholders who have limited access to fertilizers can sustainably use improved fallows to restore degraded soils to achieve higher maize yields in South Africa.

Increased Maize Yields through the Transdisciplinary Process with Site Specific Fertilizer Recommendation in Small Holder Farms in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Arusey Chebet ◽  
Otinga A. Nekesa ◽  
Wilson Ng’etich ◽  
Ruth Njoroge ◽  
Roland W. Scholz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Soil Testing ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fertilizer Recommendations ◽  
Maize Yields ◽  
Maize Grain

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of site-specific fertilizer recommendations on maize yield using the transdisciplinary (TD) process. 144 farmers participated in the study for the two seasons. Experiments were laid on the farmers’ fields at four sites (Kapyemit, Kipsomba, Ngenyilel and Ziwa, in Uasin Gishu County) using Randomized Complete Block Design in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement. Treatments included farmers who participated in the TD process (TD2) and those who did not (TD1) in using the interventions for soil fertility improvement which were farmer own practices (ST1); farmers who applied government recommendations (ST2), and site-specific fertilizer recommendations (ST3) which was based on soil testing results. The Data collected was the dry weights of maize which were measured at the end of the seasons and subjected to Analysis of Variance using Genstat 14th edition. Means separation was done using Fischer’s unprotected Least Significant Difference.. There was a significant effect on maize yields by soil testing and participation in TD process p = 0.01. The mean maize grain yield for season one was 5.43 ton ha-1 while for season two was 5.73 ton ha-1. Control farmers (TD1) maize grain yield of 5.27 ton ha-1, had a significant difference (p = 0.05) from the yield of participating farmers (TD2) who had 5.96 ton ha-1. Maize grain yield was increased by the application of site specific fertilizer recommendations which gave an overall mean of 6.57 ton ha-1 for season one and 6.56 ton ha-1 for season two. Following (ST3) recommendations and participation in the TD process, improved soil nutrient content thus maize yield increased. We recommend soil testing and consequent site-specific fertilizer recommendations for any initiative in managing soil fertility.

Residual effect of leguminous crops and inorganic fertilizer on soil properties and maize grain yield

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-301
Author(s):  
J. Asibuo ◽  
E. Safo ◽  
B. Asafo-Adjei ◽  
P. Osei-Bonsu
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Inorganic Fertilizer ◽  
Mucuna Pruriens ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Leguminous Crop ◽  
Maize Grain

Soil management practices that utilize organic matter have great potential to increase productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. Field studies were carried out between September 1995 and August 1998 to determine the effects of three leguminous crop species: velvet bean ( Mucuna pruriens var. utilis ), groundnut ( Arachis hypogaea L.) and cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp), and inorganic fertilizer on the soil properties and succeeding maize grain yield when grown in rotation on a sandy soil classified as Haplic Lixisol in the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana. The legumes were established in the minor seasons and maize in all the plots in the major cropping seasons. A 2 × 3 factorial design laid out in a randomized complete block was used. The main plots consisted of three leguminous crop residues and the sub-plots of two fertilizer levels (0 and 45 kg N ha −1 , 19 kg P ha −1 , 19 kg K ha −1 ). The control consisted of maize following maize with the recommended fertilizer rate (90 kg N ha −1 , 37 kg P ha −1 , 37 kg K ha −1 ). On average the Mucuna plots added 4.0 t ha −1 of crop residue to the soil in a season and cowpea 1.0 t ha −1 . The preceding crops had little effect on the soil properties. Leaf area index, total dry matter and maize grain yields were significantly affected by fertilizer. The best maize grain yield (6787 kg ha −1 ) was recorded in the first year on Mucuna plots with half the recommended rate of fertilizer. The cropping sequence with Mucuna residue was the most efficient. The gap in maize grain yield between the fertilized and unfertilized treatments widened each successive year. The interaction between organic matter and fertilizer may have been limited due to the surface application of the organic residue.

scholarly journals A meta-analysis of long-term effects of conservation agriculture on maize grain yield under rain-fed conditions

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 657-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard Rusinamhodzi ◽  
Marc Corbeels ◽  
Mark T. van Wijk ◽  
Mariana C. Rufino ◽  
Justice Nyamangara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Grain

scholarly journals Influence of row spacing reduction on maize grain yield in regions with a short summer

2001 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 861-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luís Sangoi ◽  
Márcio Ender ◽  
Altamir Frederico Guidolin ◽  
Milton Luiz de Almeida ◽  
Pedro Canísio Heberle
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Planting Dates ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Maize Cultivars ◽  
Main Plot ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
Maize Response

The interest in reducing maize row spacing in the short growing season regions of Brazil is increasing due to potential advantages such as higher radiation use efficiency. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of row spacing reduction on grain yield of different maize cultivars planted at different dates. The trial was conducted in Lages, in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, during 1996/97 and 1997/98 growing seasons, in a split-split plot design. Early (October 1st) and normal (November 15) planting dates were tested in the main plot; two morphologically contrasting cultivars (an early single-cross and a late double-cross hybrids) were evaluated in the split plots and three row widths (100, 75 and 50 cm) were studied in the split-split plots. The reduction of row spacing from 100 to 50 cm increased linearly maize grain yield. The yield edge provided by narrow rows was higher when maize was sown earlier in the season. Differences in hybrid cycle and plant architecture did not alter maize response to the reduction of row spacing.

scholarly journals Conservation Agriculture Based Integrated Crop Management Sustains the Maize–Wheat Rotation of North-Western India: Five Years’ Impacts on Crops and Water Productivity, Economic Profitability, Sustainable Yield Index and Soil Properties

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Pooniya ◽  
R. R. Zhiipao ◽  
Niraj Biswakarma ◽  
Dinesh Kumar ◽  
Y. S. Shivay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Sustainable Yield ◽  
Integrated Crop Management ◽  
Sustainable Yield Index ◽  
Raised Bed ◽  
Maize Grain ◽  
North Western

Abstract We have evaluated eight different integrated crop management (ICM) modules for five years in a maize-wheat rotation (MWR); wherein, ICM1&2- ˈbusiness-as-usualˈ (conventional flatbed maize and wheat, ICM3&4- conventional raised bed (CTRB) maize and wheat without residues, ICM5&6- conservation agriculture (CA)-based zero till (ZT) flatbed maize and wheat with the residues, and ICM7&8- CA-based ZT raised bed maize and wheat with the residues. Results indicated that the ICM7&8 produced significantly (p<0.05) the highest maize grain yield (5 years av.) which was 7.8-21.3% greater than the ICM1-6. However, across years, the ICM5-8 gave statistically similar wheat grain yield, and was 8.4-11.5% greater than the ICM1-4. Similarly, the CA-based residue retained ICM5-8 modules had given 9.5-14.3% (5 years av.) greater system yields in terms of maize grain equivalents (MGEY) over the residue removed CT-based ICM1&4. System water productivity (SWP) was the highest with ICM5-8, being 10.3-17.8% higher than the ICM1-4. Nevertheless, the highest water use (TWU) was recorded in the CT flatbed (ICM1&2), ~7% more than the raised bed and ZT planted crops with or without the residues (ICM4-8). Furthermore, the ICM1-4 had produced 9.54% greater variable production costs compared to the ICM5-8, whereas, the ICM5-8 gave 24.3-27.4% additional returns than the ICM1-4. Also, different ICM modules caused significant (p<0.05) impacts on the soil properties, such as, organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), dehydrogenase (SDH), alkaline phosphatase (SAP) and urease (URE) activities. In 0.0-0.15 m soil profile, residue retained CA-based (ICM5-8) modules registered a 7.1-14.3% greater SOC and 10.2-17.3% SMBC than the ICM1-4. The sustainable yield index (SYI) of MWR was 13.4-18.6% greater under the ICM7&8 compared to the ICM1-4. Hence, this study conclude that the adoption of the CA-based residue retained ICMs in the MWR could sustain the crop yields, enhance farm profits, save water and improve soil properties of the north-western plan zones of India.

scholarly journals Effects of Long-Term (7 Years) Adoption of Conservation Agriculture and Nutrient Management Practices on the Soil Properties, System Crop and Water Productivity and Farm Economics of a Maize–Chickpea Rotation 

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Pooniya ◽  
R.R. Zhiipao ◽  
Niraj Biswakarma ◽  
S.L. Jat ◽  
Dinesh Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Water Productivity ◽  
Conservation Agriculture ◽  
Gangetic Plains ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
Maize Grain Yield ◽  
Maize Grain

Abstract Conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices have been promoted and recouped, as they hold the potential to enhance farm profits besides a consistent improvement in soil properties. The CA-based crop establishment practices (CEP) along with adequate fertilizer inputs in the diversified maize-chickpea rotation (MCR) could be a profitable choice to sustain the crop production of Indo-Gangetic plains in the posterity. Therefore, a seven years' field experiment consisting of three CEP viz., zero till flatbed (ZTFB), permanent beds (PNB), conventional system (CT) along with the three nutrient management practices; nutrient expert assisted: site-specific nutrient management (NE®), recommended fertilization (RDF), and farmers’ fertilizer practice (FFP), was carried out from 2013–2020 in a sandy loam soil of the north-western Indo-Gangetic plains. Seven years’ mean maize grain yield under the ZTFB (4.34 Mg ha-1) and PNB (4.37 Mg ha-1) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than the CT (3.79 Mg ha-1). The NE® and RDF had 25.7% and 22.3% greater maize grain yield than the FFP, respectively. Similarly, ZTFB and PNB had 12.2% and 21.5% greater chickpea seed yield, respectively over the CT. The NE® and RDF gave 12.1% and 8.4% higher chickpea seed yield over the FFP, respectively. The CA-based CEP (ZTFB / PNB) produced 13.9–17.6% (seven years’ mean) higher maize grain equivalent yield (MGEY) compared to the CT, while NE® and RDF had 10.7–20% higher MGEY than the FFP. Furthermore, the PNB and ZTFB gave 28.8% and 24% additional net returns than the CT, while NE® and RDF had 22.8% and 17.4% greater returns, respectively over the FFP. The mean data showed that PNB had 7.5% and 30.8% greater system water productivity (SWP) than the ZTFB and CT, the NE® and RDF had 20% and 14% greater SWP than the FFP, respectively. After harvest of the 7th year maize, the PNB and ZTFB had 2.3–4.1% (0.0-0.20 m soil layers) lower bulk density (ρb) than the CT, however NE® and RDF had 1–1.9% lower ρb compared to the FFP. The CEP had a significant (p<0.05) impact on the soil organic carbon (OC) in 0.0-0.20 m soil layers but it remained unaffected due to the nutrient management beyond 0.10 m soil depth. Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) increased by 8–19% (0.0-0.50 m soil layers) in the ZTFB / PNB over the CT, and by 7.6–11.0% in the NE® / RDF over FFP. The sustainability yield index (SYI) was also greater under the CA-based CEP and with the NE® or RDF compared to the CT practices. Hence, the present study suggests that the CA-based CEP coupled with the NE® or RDF could enhance the yields, farm profits, soil properties of the maize-chickpea rotation, thereby, could sustain the production in long-run.

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