Moisture stress and inherent soil fertility caused huge loss in crop production. The use of insitu rainwater harvesting and integrated nutrient management can improve soil health and crop production. The Objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management and insitu rainwater harvesting on maize productivity in dry regions of Zimbabwe. Experiment was laid out as a factorial with three main factors which include cattle manure, insitu rainwater harvesting and inorganic manure. Data was collected from harvested net plot to obtain maize grain and stover yields for two growing years. Data was analysed based on analysis of variance using IBM SPSS version 25 and means which were significant different were separated using least significant different. The results show that there was significant different (p<0.001) between all treatments combinations. Results recorded higher maize grain yields from100 kg N/ha + 5 t/ha cattle manure treatments for both seasons. High grain yield of 3.41± 0.042 t/ha was recorded from ZN 100 C 5 treatments during the second year and highest maize grain yield of 3.11 t/ha was recorded in first year. There was significant different (p<0.001) on the effects of combination of cattle manure and inorganic fertiliser alone on maize grain yields. Control treatments recorded lowest maize (1.17 ± 0.031 t/ha) and stover yields of 4.36 ± 0.046 t/ha. Results indicated significant different (p<0.001) on the effects of insitu rainwater harvesting, cattle manure and inorganic manure on maize stover yields. The use of integrated nutrient management and insitu rainwater harvesting has the capacity to increase maize yields and reduce food insecurity in dry regions of most sub-Saharan African countries.

Background: Farmers in marginalised areas across Africa are mainly resource poor and have limited capacity to procure enough inorganic fertilisers. This contributed immensely towards declining crop productivity causing food insecurity. Soil moisture stress is another key factor which has led to a decline in crop yields across semi-arid areas. This experiment determines the effects of field edge rainwater harvesting and NPK fertiliser microdosing on sorghum grain yields and agronomic nutrient use efficiency of two sorghum varieties (Macia and SV1). Rainwater harvesting techniques was the main plot factor with three levels (tied contour, infiltration pits and standard contour), sorghum variety was used as subplot factor with two levels (Macia and SV1) and NPK fertiliser as sub-sub plot factor with five levels (0, 25, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha −1 ) with all treatments replicated three times. A randomised complete block design arranged in split-plot was used.Results: Phosphorous was significantly increased from 3.32 to 3.52 mg kg −1 with no significant (p > 0.05) increase in total nitrogen and soil organic carbon. Sorghum grain yields were statistically (p < 0.05) influenced by main treatment factors. Tied contour had considerably higher grain yield (861 kg ha −1 ) than infiltration pits and standard contours. Highest grain yield of 909 kg ha −1 was observed from plots applied 150 kg ha −1 NPK fertiliser. Macia variety performed significantly (p < 0.05) higher than SV1. Grain yields show significant (p < 0.05) increase with increasing fertiliser levels.Interaction of tied contour + Macia+ 150 kg ha −1 NPK fertiliser had significant grain yields (1150 kg ha −1 ) compared to other treatments. Treatments applied NPK fertiliser show significant differences (p < 0.05) than unfertilised plots. Agronomic nutrient use efficiencies were significantly higher (p < 0.05) from all treatments applied 25 kg ha −1 NPK fertiliser. Sorghum variety Macia had better nutrient use efficiency than SV1 in 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons except during 2019/20 where results show insignificant differences.

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Irish potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a strategic food security crop in Zimbabwe which is a good source of carbohydrates. This has created the need to increase research so as to increase potato productivity. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of earthing up and nutrient management on potato growth and yield. The study was carried out in Masvingo district of Masvingo Province. The experiment was laid out as a 2*3*3 factorial design with 18 treatments replicated three times to give 54 plots. Days to maturity were observed when potato plant leaves turned yellow and 85% of the tubers were ready for harvest at physiological maturity. Results show that plant height was not significantly affected (p&lt;0.05) by earthing up. Nutrient management significantly influenced (p&lt;0.05) plant height with highest (31.2 ± 0.97 cm) observed from 5 t ha-1 cattle manure + 50 kg ha-1 potassium fertiliser. Days to maturity were statistically affected (p&lt;0.05) by tillage type and nutrient management. Days to maturity increased statistically (p&lt;0.05) with increase in application rates of cattle manure + potassium fertiliser irregardless of tillage type. Earthing up considerably influenced potato yield, with highest yields obtained from earthing up treatments amended with cattle manure + potassium fertiliser. Combining 5 t ha-1 cattle manure and + 50 kg ha-1 potassium fertiliser have the potential to improve potato growth and yields. It can be concluded that farmers adopt the use of earthing up integrated with cattle manure + potassium fertiliser at a rate of 5 t ha-1 + 50 kg ha-1can be a better option to improve potato production in smallholder farming systems.