Effect of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on yield and yield components of maize in Western Ethiopia

Tolessa, D.; Preez, C. C. du; Ceronio, Gert

doi:10.1080/02571862.2007.10634783

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…With its total annual production and productivity exceeding all other cereals (23.24% of 13.7 Million tons), and second after tef (Eragrostis tef) in area coverage (16.12% of the 8.7 million hectares), maize (Zea mays) is one of the most important crops grown in Ethiopia [9]; [10]. It is the most extensively cultivated food crops and main source of calorie in the Ethiopian part of the Blue Nile basin [11]. With the introduction of the hybrid seeds and the high yielding open pollinated varieties, and the increasing local demand, the importance of the crop may increase even further.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to Tanner and Sinclair [13], in situations where yield is less than 40% -50% of potential, nonwater factors such as soil fertility limit yield and crop water productivity per unit of evapotranspiration. In the Ethiopian part of the Blue Nile basin, land degradation and nutrient depletion, lack of access to improved technologies such as seeds and fertilizers, and poor weed and pest control practices are among the major factors depressing the water productivity of maize [11]. At the basin scale, water is a scarce resource, which should be utilized efficiently.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Soil fertility effect on water productivity of maize in the upper blue nile basin, Ethiopia

Erkossa¹,

Awulachew²,

Denekew³

2011

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Maize (Zea mays) is among the major cereals grown in the high rainfall areas of the subSaharan Africa’s (SSA) such as the Ethiopian part of the Blue Nile basin. However, its productivity is severely constrained by poor soil, water and crop management practices. This study simulated the water productivity of the crop under varying soil fertility scenarios (poor, near optimal and none limiting) using hybrid seeds under rainfed conditions using the FAO AquaCrop model. The result indicated that grain yield of maize increased from 2.5 tons.ha–1 under poor to 6.4 and 9.2 tons.ha–1 with near optimal and non-limiting soil fertility conditions. Correspondingly, soil evaporation decreased from 446 mm to 285 and 204 mm, while transpiration increased from 146 to 268 and 355 mm. Consequently, grain water productivity was increased by 48% and 54%, respectively, with the near optimal and non-limiting soil fertility conditions. The water productivity gain mainly comes from reduced evaporation and increased transpiration without significantly affecting water left for downstream ecosystem services. This has a huge implication for a basin scale water management planning for various purposes

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil fertility effect on water productivity of maize in the upper blue nile basin, Ethiopia

Erkossa¹,

Awulachew²,

Denekew³

2011

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“…Several researchers (Triplett and Van Doren, 1969;Fink and Wesley, 1974;Addiscott and Dexter, 1994;Du Preez et al, 2001;Ben MoussaMachraoui et al, 2010) showed that the fate of maize residues had a large influence on exchangeable K in soils as the residues contain a large amount of K. The decrease of pH and increase of extractable P and exchangeable K in the 0-7.5 cm layer of MTRR soils with respect to MTRV and CT soils had probably no negative effect on the grain yield of maize during the final two years of the trial period. In this period there was no significant difference in grain yield between MTRV and CT and both were significantly inferior to MTRR (Tolessa et al, 2007). However, it can be expected that the changes of pH, extractable P and exchangeable K resulting in the Nitisols within five years of MTRR will proceed with continuous application of this tillage system.…”

Section: Exchangeable Kmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License this investigation was to obtain substantiated information whether the sustainability of the current cropping systems can be improved with minimum tillage. Results of the investigation concerning effects on yield and yield components (Tolessa et al, 2007) and efficacy of applied nitrogen (Tolessa et al, 2009) have already been reported but not that of changes in soil fertility indicators.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on the pH, extractable phosphorus and exchangeable potassium of Nitisols in Western Ethiopia

Tolessa¹,

Preez²,

Ceronio³

2014

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Maize production in Western Ethiopia is constrained by non-sustainable cropping practices, particularly repeated conventional tillage and insufficient N fertilization. A change in these cropping practices have usually a profound influence on soil chemical properties of which some may affect crop performance. Field trials were therefore conducted to determine the integrated effects of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on the pH, extractable phosphorus and exchangeable K of Nitisols at five sites using maize as test crop from 2000 to 2004 in Western Ethiopia. Three tillage systems (MTRR = minimum tillage with residue retention, MTRV = minimum tillage with residue removal and CT = conventional tillage) and three N levels (the recommended rate and 25% less and 25% more than this rate) were combined in factorial arrangement with three replications. After five years the influence of the tillage systems on pH, extractable P and exchangeable K was confined to the upper 0-7.5 cm. The soil was acidified much more with MTRR than with either MTRV or CT. However, MTRR resulted in higher contents of extractable P and exchangeable K than MTRV and CT. Application of N fertilization for five consecutive years significantly decreased pH irrespective of tillage system. Neither extractable P nor exchangeable K were affected by N fertilization. The enhanced soil acidification that coincides with MTRR may impact negatively on maize production in the long run without a proper liming program. Liming is currently not a common practice in Western Ethiopia because of resource poor farmers. This aspect should be taken into account when the replacement of CT with MTRR is recommended. The findings of this study could be useful to other highland regions in Africa where cropping on Nitisols is common.

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“…Some of the results are already reported, viz. the effects on yield and yield components (Tolessa et al, 2007) and efficacy of applied nitrogen (Tolessa et al, 2009). In this paper, the response of soil organic matter is presented.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on organic matter content of Nitisols in Western Ethiopia

Tolessa¹,

Preez²,

Ceronio³

2014

Afr. J. Agric. Res.

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Ethiopian soils, formed from old weathered rocks, are naturally low in fertility. Moreover, crop production is constrained by non-sustainable cropping practices, particularly repeated plowing and hoeing, which enhances loss of soil organic matter. Field trials were therefore conducted to determine the integrated effects of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on organic matter content of Nitisols at five sites using maize as test crop during 2000 to 2004 in Western Ethiopia. Three tillage systems [minimum tillage with residue retention (MTRR), minimum tillage with residue removal (MTRV) and conventional tillage (CT)] and three N levels (the recommended rate and 25% less and 25% more than this rate) were combined in factorial arrangement with three replications. After 5 years, the two measured indices of organic matter, viz. the organic carbon (C) and total nitrogen (N) content were both significantly higher in the MTRR soil compared to the CT and MTRV soils. However, the influence of tillage systems on organic C and total N was confined to the upper 0 to 7.5 cm soil layer. On average, organic C and total N in this layer were 17 and 25%, and 20 and 29% higher with MTRR than with CT and MTRV, respectively. Application of N fertilization for 5 consecutive years showed profound effects on organic C and total N. Increasing levels of N application led to higher organic C and total N irrespective of tillage system. Both organic C and total N showed however a steady (115 kg ha-1 N level) to declining (69 and 92 kg ha-1 N levels) trend over time. Based on these results, replacement of CT with MTRR should be beneficial and sustainable to soil quality in the study area. However, MTRV is not an option at all to replace CT from a soil quality point of view. This study's findings may be applicable to other highland regions in Africa where cropping on Nitisols is common.

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Effect of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on yield and yield components of maize in Western Ethiopia

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

Soil fertility effect on water productivity of maize in the upper blue nile basin, Ethiopia

Soil fertility effect on water productivity of maize in the upper blue nile basin, Ethiopia

Effect of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on the pH, extractable phosphorus and exchangeable potassium of Nitisols in Western Ethiopia

Effect of tillage system and nitrogen fertilization on organic matter content of Nitisols in Western Ethiopia

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