scholarly journals Influence of Crop Rotation and Soil Fertility Management Strategies on Water Use Efficiency of Wheat in a Changing Climate in Njoro Sub-County in Kenya

2020 ◽  
pp. 59-76
Author(s):  
P. A. Ooro ◽  
R. J. Birech ◽  
J. N. Malinga ◽  
E. Thuranira ◽  
C. Digo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Ammonium Nitrate ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Water Harvesting ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Use Efficiency

Aims: The study determined the effect of soil fertility management (inorganic and organic N sources) and short term crop rotation (cereal – legumes cropping systems) on water use efficiency of wheat in high potential areas. Study Design: A randomized complete block design was used with split-split-plot arrangement replicated three times. Three factors evaluated included water harvesting (WH), crop rotation (CR) and soil fertility management (SFM). The data obtained were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Genstat statistical package while the mean separation was performed using least significance differences (P =.05). Place and Duration of Study: The trial was conducted at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) fields based in Njoro for three years between 2014 and 2016 during rainy seasons. Methodology: Water harvesting was evaluated at consisted of flat beds (WH1) and tied ridges (WH2), crop rotation was tested at four levels comprising of Wheat- Dolichos lablab (Lablab purpureum)-Wheat- L. purpureum (CR1); Wheat-Greenpea (P. sativum) –Wheat (Triticum aestivum L)- P. sativum (CR2); T. aestivum L-potato- P. sativum –Potato (Solanum tuberosum) (CR3); and Wheat-Wheat-Wheat-Wheat) (CR4). Six different soil fertility management (SFM) strategies evaluated included SFM1 = untreated control; SFM2 = Farm Yard Manure at 5 t ha-1; SFM3 = Green manure (L.eucaena triachandra) at 2.5 mt ha-1; SFM4 = Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at 25 kg N ha-1; SFM5 = Calcuim Ammonium Nitrate at 50 kg N ha-1; and SFM6 = Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) at 75 kg N ha-1. The Water harvesting (WH) and SFM were fixed on the same plot at the form and rate for the entire period of the study while crops were rotated between seasons. Water use efficiency was derived as a ratio of water use and grain yield and biomass. Results: Results revealed significant (P =.05) effect of crop rotation and soil fertility management on water use efficiency. However, water harvesting did not influence. While interaction of CR and SFM significantly (P =.05) influenced WUE and grain yield. Significant influence was also observed on WUE due to an interaction between WH and SFM. Dolichos lablab (L. purpureum) and green pea as pre-crops resulted in higher yield than when potato was the pre-crop and continuous wheat.  Use of inorganic N fertilizer with L. purpureum as a pre-crop resulted in higher grain yield than all other soil fertility management strategies evaluated. In conclusion, the use of green pea as a pre-crop during the short rain followed by wheat in long rains is a beneficial crop rotation systems and a climate smart strategy. In addition, organic N sources should be recommended for sustainable wheat production because it will positively influence the accumulation and slow release of soil moisture for increased water use efficiency.

scholarly journals Quantifying Effects of Selected Soil Fertility Management Techniques on Water Use Efficiency in the Central Highlands of Kenya

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Beryl Etemesi ◽  
Felix K. Ngetich ◽  
Milka N. Kiboi ◽  
Abdi Zeila ◽  
Noah Adamtey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Mineral Fertilizer ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Management Techniques

Declining rainfall distribution and variability lead to low soil moisture amounts and high evapotranspiration rates reducing water use efficiency that negatively affects crop productivity. Various soil fertility management techniques have been put in place to improve soil fertility status, but there is little attempt to asses their effects on water use efficiency and grain yields. The overall objective of the study was to quantify the effects of soil fertility management techniques on water use efficiency in the Central Highlands of Kenya. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design with fourteen treatments replicated four times. Treatments were sole mineral fertilizer (Rf), crop residues + mineral fertilizer (RMf), crop residues + mineral fertilizer + animal manure (RMfM), crop residue + Tithonia diversifolia + animal manure (RTiM), crop residue + Tithonia diversifolia + rock phosphate (RTiP). Data on yield and water use efficiency was analysed using statistical analysis systems software version 9.2 at P=0.05. We observed significant (P<.0001) effect of the treatment on biomass water use efficiency during the short rains 2017, however, there was no significant effect of the treatments on grain water use efficiency because of the frequent dry spells that occurred during the study period. Soil fertility management techniques had a significant effect on grain yield at P<.0001 during the study period. Yields increased significantly (P<0001) under Rf, RMf, RMfM RTiM and RTiP by 90, 110, 120, and 176%, respectively. Water use efficiency also increased significantly under Rf, RMf, RMfM RTiM and RTiP by 200, 140, 180, 129, and 176%, respectively compared to the control. From the study, the combination of organic inputs and mineral fertilisers enhanced water use efficiency and yield hence provides a preferred practise for improved water use efficiency and yield increase.

scholarly journals Effect of Legumes on Nitrogen Use Efficiency of Wheat in a Short Term Crop Rotation in Njoro Sub-County

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
P. A. Ooro ◽  
R. J. Birech ◽  
J. N. Malinga ◽  
E. Thuranira
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Nitrogen Use Efficiency ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Water Harvesting ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Fertility Management ◽  
Use Efficiency

Aims: The study determined the effect of legumes in short term crop rotation (cereal – legumes cropping systems) on nitrogen use efficiency of wheat. Study Design: A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used in a split-split-plot arrangement replicated three times. Three factors evaluated included water harvesting (WH), crop rotation (CR) and soil fertility management (SFM). The data obtained were subjected to an analysis of variance (ANOVA) using Genstat statistical package while the mean separation was performed using least significance differences (P =.05). Place and Duration of Study: The trial was conducted at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO) fields based in Njoro for three years between 2014 and 2016 during rainy seasons. Methodology: The treatments consisted of four pre-crops in the rotation systems (CR1 = Dolichos lablab (L. purpureus) as a pre-crop; CR2 = Green pea (Pisum sativum) as a pre-crop; potato (Solanum tuberosum) as a pre-crop; and CR4 = continuous wheat (Triticum aestivum), two water harvesting (WH) strategies (WH = flat beds; and WH= tied ridges) and  six soil fertility management (SFM) strategies (SFM1 = untreated control; SFM2 = FYM at 5 t ha-1;  SFM3 = Green manure (Leucaena trichandra) at 2.5 t ha-1; SFM4 =  inorganic source at 25 kg N ha-1; SFM5 = inorganic source at  50 kg N ha-1; and SFM6 = Inorganic source at 75 kg N ha-1).. Results: The results revealed that the value of NUE significantly (p < 0.001) increased when P. sativum and L. purpureus preceded wheat in the short term crop rotation system.  The value of NUE increased by 39% and 44%, when wheat was preceded L. purpureus and P. sativum, respectively, relative to S. tuberosum.  Under continuous wheat, NUE value was increased by 54.17% relative to potato as a pre-crop. Overall, the contribution of legumes (L. purpureus and P. sativum) as precursor crops was greater than those observed with potato and wheat as pre-crops.

Effects of Ridge Mulching with Side-dressing on Grain Yield, Protein Content and Water Use Efficiency in Dryland Wheat

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 899 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming HUANG ◽  
Zhao-Hui WANG ◽  
Lai-Chao LUO ◽  
Sen WANG ◽  
Ming BAO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Use Efficiency

scholarly journals Optimizing Grain Yield and Water Use Efficiency Based on the Relationship between Leaf Area Index and Evapotranspiration

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 313
Author(s):  
Guoqiang Zhang ◽  
Bo Ming ◽  
Dongping Shen ◽  
Ruizhi Xie ◽  
Peng Hou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Leaf Area Index ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Irrigation Level ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
The Relationship

Achieving optimal balance between maize yield and water use efficiency is an important challenge for irrigation maize production in arid areas. In this study, we conducted an experiment in Xinjiang China in 2016 and 2017 to quantify the response of maize yield and water use to plant density and irrigation schedules. The treatments included four irrigation levels: 360 (W1), 480 (W2), 600 (W3), and 720 mm (W4), and five plant densities: 7.5 (D1), 9.0 (D2), 10.5 (D3), 12.0 (D4), and 13.5 plants m−2 (D5). The results showed that increasing the plant density and the irrigation level could both significantly increase the leaf area index (LAI). However, LAI expansion significantly increased evapotranspiration (ETa) under irrigation. The combination of irrigation level 600 mm (W3) and plant density 12.0 plants m−2 (D4) produced the highest maize yield (21.0–21.2 t ha−1), ETa (784.1–797.8 mm), and water use efficiency (WUE) (2.64–2.70 kg m−3), with an LAI of 8.5–8.7 at the silking stage. The relationship between LAI and grain yield and evapotranspiration were quantified, and, based on this, the relationship between water use and maize productivity was analyzed. Moreover, the optimal LAI was established to determine the reasonable irrigation level and coordinate the relationship between the increase in grain yield and the decrease in water use efficiency.

scholarly journals Increase maize productivity and water use efficiency through application of potassium silicate under water stress

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Gomaa ◽  
Essam E. Kandil ◽  
Atef A. M. Zen El-Dein ◽  
Mamdouh E. M. Abou-Donia ◽  
Hayssam M. Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Water Use Efficiency ◽  
Water Deficit ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Foliar Application ◽  
Potassium Silicate ◽  
Water Deficit Stress ◽  
Maize Productivity ◽  
Use Efficiency

AbstractIn Egypt, water shortage has become a key limiting factor for agriculture. Water-deficit stress causes different morphological, physiological, and biochemical impacts on plants. Two field experiments were carried out at Etay El-Baroud Station, El-Beheira Governorate, Agriculture Research Center (ARC), Egypt, to evaluate the effect of potassium silicate (K-silicate) of maize productivity and water use efficiency (WUE). A split-plot system in the four replications was used under three irrigation intervals during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Whereas 10, 15, and 20 days irrigation intervals were allocated in main plots, while the three foliar application treatments of K-silicate (one spray at 40 days after sowing; two sprays at 40 and 60 days; and three sprays at 40, 60, and 80 days, and a control (water spray) were distributed in the subplots. All the treatments were distributed in 4 replicates. The results indicated that irrigation every 15 days gave the highest yield in both components and quality. The highly significant of (WUE) under irrigation every 20 days. Foliar spraying of K-silicate three times resulted in the highest yield. Even under water-deficit stress, irrigation every fifteen days combined with foliar application of K-silicate three times achieved the highest values of grain yield and its components. These results show that K-silicate treatment can increase WUE and produce high grain yield requiring less irrigation.

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