Yield and soil system changes from conservation tillage in dryland farming: A case study from North Eastern Tanzania

Agricultural Water Management

Volumn 98, Issue 11, 2011, Pages 1687-1695

  Enfors, Elin ^a,b   Barron, Jennie ^a,b   Makurira, Hodson ^c   Rockström, Johan ^a,b   Tumbo, Siza ^d  

^a STOCKHOLM UNIVERSITY   (Sweden)

^b STOCKHOLM ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE   (Sweden)

^c UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE   (Zimbabwe)

^d SOKOINE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE   (Tanzania)

Author keywords

Agricultural droughts; Conservation tillage; In situ water harvesting; Maize yields; Ripping; Short and long term effects; Soil health; Tanzania

Indexed keywords

AGRICULTURAL DROUGHT; CONSERVATION TILLAGE; IN SITU WATER HARVESTING; LONG-TERM EFFECTS; MAIZE YIELD; RIPPING; SOIL HEALTH; TANZANIA;

AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY; CROPS; EXPERIMENTS; HARVESTING; MANURES; RAIN; RUNOFF; SOILS; WATER CONSERVATION; WATER SUPPLY;

SOIL CONSERVATION;

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT; CONSERVATION TILLAGE; CROP YIELD; DROUGHT; DRYLAND FARMING; EXPERIMENTAL STUDY; MAIZE; MANURE; PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTY; RHIZOSPHERE; SEMIARID REGION; SMALLHOLDER; SOIL MANAGEMENT; SOIL MOISTURE; WATER AVAILABILITY; WATER MANAGEMENT; YIELD RESPONSE;

TANZANIA;

ZEA MAYS;

EID: 80052020714     PISSN: 03783774     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2010.02.013     Document Type: Article

References (51)

1. Barron J., Rockstrom J., Gichuki F., Hatibu N. Dry spell analysis and maize yields for two semi-arid locations in east Africa. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 2003, 117:23-37.
2. Baudeon F., Mwanza H., Triomphe B., Bwalya M. Conservation Agriculture in Zambia: A Case Study of the Southern Province. African Conservation Tillage Network (ACT), CIRAD 2007, FAO.
3. Conservation Tillage for Sustainable Agriculture. Proceedings from an International Workshop, Harare, Zimbabwe, 22-27 June 1998 1998, J. Benites, E. Chuma, R. Fowler, J. Kienzle, K. Molapong, J. Manu, I. Nyagumbo, K. Steiner, R. van Veenhuizen (Eds.).
4. Bolliger A., Magid J., Amado T.J.C., Neto F.S., Ribeiro M.D.D., Calegari A., Ralisch R., de Neergaard A. Taking stock of the Brazilian "zero-till revolution": a review of landmark research and farmers' practice. Advances in Agronomy 2006, 91:47-110.
5. Brady N. The Nature and Properties of Soils 1984, Macmillan Publishing, New York. 9th ed.
6. Brevault T., Bikay S., Maldes J.M., Naudin K. Impact of a no-till with mulch soil management strategy on soil macrofauna communities in a cotton cropping system. Soil & Tillage Research 2007, 97:140-149.
7. Chivenge P.P., Murwira H.K., Giller K.E., Mapfumo P., Six J. Long-term impact of reduced tillage and residue management on soil carbon stabilization: implications for conservation agriculture on contrasting soils. Soil & Tillage Research 2007, 94:328-337.
8. Conway G., Toenniessen G. Science for African food security. Science 2003, 299:1187-1188.
9. Diao X., Hazell P., Resnick D., Thurlow J. The role of agriculture in development: implications for sub-Saharan Africa. IFPRI Research Report 2007, 153.
10. Enfors E., Gordon L. Analyzing resilience in dryland agro-ecosystems: a case study of the Makanya catchment in Tanzania over the past 50 years. Land Degradation & Development 2007, 18:680-696.
11. Falkenmark M., Rockström J. Balancing Water for Humans and Nature: The New Approach in Ecohydrology 2004, Earthscan Publications Ltd., London, UK.
12. FAO Agro-MAPS: Global Spatial Database of Agricultural Land-Use Statistics 2008, FAO.
13. Fowler R., Rockstrom J. Conservation tillage for sustainable agriculture - an agrarian revolution gathers momentum in Africa. Soil & Tillage Research 2001, 61:93-107.
14. Gicheru P., Gachene C., Mbuvi J., Mare E. Effects of soil management practices and tillage systems on surface soil water conservation and crust formation on a sandy loam in semi-arid Kenya. Soil & Tillage Research 2004, 75:173-184.
15. Haggblade S., Tembo G. Conservation Farming in Zambia 2003, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
16. Hållén, C. 2007. Effects of conservation management on soil microbiology in a Tanzanian agro-ecosystem. M.Sc. Thesis in Environmental Science, Lund University, Sweden.
17. Hobbs P., Sayre K., Gupta R. The role of conservation agriculture in sustainable agriculture. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 2008, 363:543-555.
18. Kay B.D., VandenBygaart A.J. Conservation tillage and depth stratification of porosity and soil organic matter. Soil & Tillage Research 2002, 66:107-118.
19. Knapen A., Poesen J., Govers G., De Baets S. The effect of conservation tillage on run-off erosivity and soil erodibility during concentrated flow. Hydrological Processes 2008, 22:1479-1508.
20. Knowler D., Bradshaw B. Farmers' adoption of conservation agriculture: a review and synthesis of recent research. Food Policy 2007, 32:25-48.
21. Lal R. Long-term tillage and maize monoculture effects on a tropical Alfisol in western Nigeria. I. Crop yield and soil physical properties. Soil & Tillage Research 1997, 42:145-160.
22. Lal R. Long-term tillage and maize monoculture effects on a tropical Alfisol in western Nigeria. II. Soil chemical properties. Soil & Tillage Research 1997, 42:161-174.
23. Lal R. Soil carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change. Geoderma 2004, 123:1-22.
24. Lal R. Enhancing crop yields in the developing countries through restoration of the soil organic carbon pool in agricultural lands. Land Degradation & Development 2006, 17:197-209.
25. Lal R. Constraints to adopting no-till farming in developing countries. Soil & Tillage Research 2007, 94:1-3.
26. Machado P., Silva C.A. Soil management under no-tillage systems in the tropics with special reference to Brazil. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 2001, 61:119-130.
27. Makurira H., Savenije H.H.G., Uhlenbrook S., Rockstrom J., Senzanje A. Towards a better understanding of water partitioning processes for improved smallholder rainfed agricultural systems: a case study of Makanya catchment, Tanzania. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 2007, 32:1082-1089.
28. McHugh O.V., Steenhuis T.S., Berihun A., Fernandes E.C.M. Performance of in situ rainwater conservation tillage techniques on dry spell mitigation and erosion control in the drought-prone North Wello zone of the Ethiopian highlands. Soil & Tillage Research 2007, 97:19-36.
29. Mrabet R. Stratification of soil aggregation and organic matter under conservation tillage systems in Africa. Soil & Tillage Research 2002, 66:119-128.
30. Mupangwa W., Love D., Twomlow S. Soil-water conservation and rainwater harvesting strategies in the semi-arid Mzingwane Catchment, Limpopo Basin, Zimbabwe. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C 2006, 31:893-900.
31. Mupangwa W., Twomlow S., Walker S. The influence of conservation tillage methods on soil water regimes in semi-arid southern Zimbabwe. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C 2008, 33:762-767.
32. Nyamadzawo G., Chikowo R., Nyamugufata P., Nyamangara J., Giller K. Soil organic carbon dynamics of improved fallow-maize rotation systems under cinventional and no-tillage in Central Zimbabwe. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 2008, 81:85-93.
33. Ouédraogo E., Brussaard L., Stroosnijder L. Soil fauna and organic amendment interactions affect soil carbon and crop performance in semi-arid West Africa. Biology and Fertility of Soils 2007, 44:343-351.
34. Ouédraogo E., Mando A., Brussaard L., Stroosnijder L. Tillage and fertility management effects on soil organic matter and sorghum yield in semi-arid West Africa. Soil & Tillage Research 2007, 94:64-74.
35. Reynolds J.F., Smith D.M.S., Lambin E.F., Turner B.L., Mortimore M., Batterbury S.P.J., Downing T.E., Dowlatabadi H., Fernandez R.J., Herrick J.E., Huber-Sannwald E., Jiang H., Leemans R., Lynam T., Maestre F.T., Ayarza M., Walker B. Global desertification: building a science for dryland development. Science 2007, 316:847-851.
36. Rockstrom J. On-farm green water estimates as a tool for increased food production in water scarce regions. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth Part B: Hydrology Oceans and Atmosphere 1999, 24:375-383.
37. Rockstrom J., Barron J., Fox P. Rainwater management for increased productivity among small-holder farmers in drought prone environments. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 2002, 27:949-959.
38. Rockström J., Falkenmark M. Semiarid crop production from a hydrological perspective: gap between potential and actual yields. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences 2000, 19:319-346.
39. Rockström J., Hatibu N., Oweis T., Wani S., Barron J., Bruggeman A., Farahani J., Karlberg L., Qiang Z. Managing water in rainfed agriculture. Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture 2007, Earthscan and International Water Management Institute (IWMI), London, UK, and Colombo, Sri Lanka. D. Molden (Ed.).
40. Rockström J., Kaumbutho P., Mwalley J., Nzabi A.W., Temesgen M., Mawenya L., Barron J., Mutua J., Damgaard-Larsen S. Conservation farming strategies in East and Southern Africa: yields and rain water productivity from on-farm action research. Soil & Tillage Research 2009, 103:23-32.
41. Roldan A., Caravaca F., Hernandez M.T., Garcia C., Sanchez-Brito C., Velasquez M., Tiscareno M. No-tillage, crop residue additions, and legume cover cropping effects on soil quality characteristics under maize in Patzcuaro watershed (Mexico). Soil & Tillage Research 2003, 72:65-73.
42. Sanchez P.A. Soil fertility and hunger in Africa. Science 2002, 295:2019-2020.
43. Slegers M.F.W., Stroosnijder L. Beyond the desertification narrative: a framework for agricultural drought in semi-arid East Africa. Ambio 2008, 37:372-380.
44. Steiner K. Conservation Tillage: Gateway to Food Security and Sustainable Rural Development 2002, African Consservation Tillage Network/GTZ.
45. Temesgen, M. 2007. Conservation tillage systems and water productivity implications for smallholder farmers in semi-arid Ethiopia. Ph.D. Thesis from UNESCO-IHE and Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
46. Thomas G.A., Dalal R.C., Standley J. No-till effects on organic matter, pH, cation exchange capacity and nutrient distribution in a Luvisol in the semi-arid subtropics. Soil & Tillage Research 2007, 94:295-304.
47. Twomlow S., Steyn J., Du Preez C. Dryland farming in southern Africa. Dryland Agriculture, Agronomy Monograph, No. 23 2006, American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin, (Chapter 19). 2nd ed.
48. Twomlow S.J., Bruneau P.M.C. The influence of tillage on semi-arid soil-water regimes in Zimbabwe. Geoderma 2000, 95:33-51.
49. Vanlauwe B., Giller K.E. Popular myths around soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2006, 116:34-46.
50. Zhang G.S., Chan K.Y., Oates A., Heenan D.P., Huang G.B. Relationship between soil structure and runoff/soil loss after 24 years of conservation tillage. Soil & Tillage Research 2007, 92:122-128.
51. Zibilske L.M., Bradford J.M., Smart J.R. Conservation tillage induced changes in organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus in a semi-arid alkaline subtropical soil. Soil & Tillage Research 2002, 66:153-163.