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Reduced tillage and nitrogen effects on soil water dynamics and maize (Zea maysL.) yield under semi-arid conditions

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Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/9831/
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2015.1011393
10.1080/14735903.2015.1011393
 
Title Reduced tillage and nitrogen effects on soil water dynamics and maize (Zea maysL.) yield under semi-arid conditions
 
Creator Mupangwa, W
Twomlow, S
Walker, S
 
Subject Soil
Maize
 
Description Soil water and nutrients are critical drivers of crop production for smallholders of southern Africa. A three-year study was conducted to assess the effect of integrating single and double ploughing, ripping and planting basins with nitrogen fertilizer (0, 10 and 20 kg N ha–1) on soil water dynamics and maize (Zea mays L.) yields. The experimental design was factorial with four tillage methods and three nitrogen levels as treatment factors. The study was conducted under semi-arid conditions of Zimbabwe. Tillage methods had similar soil water patterns in the profile and no tillage × N interaction effects were observed on soil water dynamics. Soil water penetrated deeper into the profile under ripper and basin methods than conventionally ploughed treatments. Nitrogen increased maize yields (14–96%) and rainwater-use efficiency (20–92%) regardless of tillage methods and growing season quality. However, more studies are required to explore complementary techniques that can improve rainwater capture and prolong soil water storage, and improve soil fertility.
 
Publisher Taylor & Francis
 
Date 2016
 
Type Article
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
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Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/9831/1/mupangwa2015.pdf
Mupangwa, W and Twomlow, S and Walker, S (2016) Reduced tillage and nitrogen effects on soil water dynamics and maize (Zea maysL.) yield under semi-arid conditions. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, 14 (1). pp. 13-30. ISSN 1473-5903