Effects of soil management practices and tillage systems on surface soil water conservation and crust formation on a sandy loam in semi-arid Kenya

Gicheru, Patrick; Gachene, Ckk; Mbuvi, JP; Mare, Edward

doi:10.1016/s0167-1987(03)00161-2

Cited by 100 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Other field studies in the Loess Plateau also demonstrated that SS had a higher water content during both the wheat growing season and the fallow period, and showed higher yields of winter wheat compared to CT (Liang et al, 2002;Wang et al, 2003). This is also in agreement with results found in diverse regions, including Victoria Australia (Cantero-Martinez et al, 1999), Nebraska USA (Lyon et al, 1998), Texas USA (Baumhardt and Jones, 2002), the northern Great Plain in USA (Lenssen et al, 2007) and on a semi-arid Kenya (Gicheru et al, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Effects of different management practices on the soil–water balance and crop yield for improved dryland farming in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Jin¹,

Cornelis²,

Schiettecatte³

et al. 2007

Soil and Tillage Research

142

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Field experiments were carried out to study the effects of different soil management practices on the water balance, precipitation use efficiency (PUE), and crop yield (i.e. winter wheat and peanut) on a loess soil near Luoyang (east edge of the Chinese Loess Plateau, Henan Province, China). Field plots were set up in 1999 including following soil management practices: subsoiling with mulch (SS), no-till with mulch (NT), reduced tillage (RT), two crops per year (i.e. winter wheat and peanut, TC), and a conventional tillage control (CT). The field plots were equipped to monitor all components of the soil-water balance except evapotranspiration, which was computed by solving the water balance equation. The results showed that although soil management had smaller influence on the magnitude of the water balance components than did precipitation variations, small influences of the applied soil management practices on water conservation during the fallow period can greatly affect winter wheat yield. SS increased consistently precipitation storage efficiency (PSE) and PUE over the 5 years compared to CT except during the wettest year. NT also had a noticeable effect on postharvest water storage during the fallow period; however, the influence on yield of NT depended on the amount of precipitation. TC lowered the winter wheat yield mainly due to the unfavorable soil moisture conditions after growing peanut in summer; however, the harvested peanut gained an extra profit for the local farmer. No matter which kind of soil management practices was adapted, PSE never exceeded 41.6%, which was primarily attributed to high evapotranspiration. From data of five consecutive agricultural years between 2000 and 2005, it could be concluded that SS resulted in the highest PSE, PUE and crop yield. TC also showed promising results considering the economic value of the second crop. NT performed slightly less as SS. CT gave intermediate results, whereas RT was the worst alternative. # 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Abbreviations: CT, conventional tillage; D, drainage; ET, evapotranspiration; I, irrigation; L i , lateral inflow; L o , lateral outflow; NT, no tillage; OC, organic carbon; P, precipitation; P f , precipitation during fallow period; P g , precipitation during growing period; PSE, precipitation storage efficiency; R, runoff; RT, reduced tillage; S, water storage; S i , water storage in the beginning of the crop year; S o , water storage at the time of winter wheat sowing; S e , water storage at the end of the crop year; SS, subsoiling; TC, two-crop rotation; PUE, precipitation use efficiency

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Effects of different management practices on the soil–water balance and crop yield for improved dryland farming in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Jin¹,

Cornelis²,

Schiettecatte³

et al. 2007

Soil and Tillage Research

142

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“…Whereas the upper horizon of the upper hillslope sector showed high sand contents, clay content is higher in the subsurface horizon and increases downslope at both soil depths (Table 2), probably as the result of both clay transport by overland flow (this mechanism has been described by other authors, i.e. Cerdà (2002), in Mediterranean environments), and/or clay illuviation, also a well-known process in these environments (Ceballos et al, 2002;Cerdà, 2002;Gicheru et al, 2004;Philips, 2004;Yaalon, 1997). In fact, Delgado et al (2003) described Bt horizons in soils belonging to the same soil unit in a nearby area to the study site.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Vertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a Mediterranean karst hillslope

Cantón

Rodríguez‐Caballero

Contreras³

et al. 2016

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Abstract:The need for a better understanding of factors controlling the variability of soil water content (θ) in space and time to adequately predict the movement of water in the soil and in the interphase soil-atmosphere is widely recognised. In this paper, we analyse how soil properties, surface cover and topography influence soil moisture (θ) over karstic lithology in a sub-humid Mediterranean mountain environment. For this analysis we have used 17 months of θ measurements with a high temporal resolution from different positions on a hillslope at the main recharge area of the Campo de Dalías aquifer, in Sierra de Gádor (Almería, SE Spain). Soil properties and surface cover vary depending on the position at the hillslope, and this variability has an important effect on θ. The higher clay content towards the lower position of the hillslope explains the increase of θ downslope at the subsurface horizon throughout the entire period studied. In the surface horizon (0-0.1 m), θ patterns coincide with those found at the subsurface horizon (0.1-0.35 m) during dry periods when the main control is also exerted by the higher percentage of clay that increases downslope and limits water depletion through evaporation. However, in wet periods, the wettest regime is found in the surface horizon at the upper position of the hillslope where plant cover, soil organic matter content, available water, unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K unsat ) and infiltration rates are higher than in the lower positions. The presence of rock outcrops upslope the θ sampling area, acts as runoff sources, and subsurface flow generation between surface and subsurface horizons also may increase the differences between the upper and the lower positions of the hillslope during wet periods. Both rock and soil cracks and fissures act disconnecting surface water fluxes and reducing run-on to the lower position of the hillslope and thus they affect θ pattern as well as groundwater recharge. Understanding how terrain attributes, ground cover and soil factors interact for controlling θ pattern on karst hillslope is crucial to understand water fluxes in the vadose zone and dominant percolation mechanisms which also contribute to estimate groundwater recharge rates. Therefore, understanding of soil moisture dynamics provides very valuable information for designing rational strategies for the use and management of water resources, which is especially urgent in regions where groundwater supports human consume or key economic activities.

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“…Using no-till system in combination with pastures and longer cycles of maize and wheat increased SOM concentration compared with elimination of pastures and longer cycles of sunflower and soybeans. In semi-arid Kenya, Gicheru et al (2004) reported that using CA with manure and mulching created a favorable water balance in a crust-prone sandy loam soil. Field experiments on Vertisols in the central Highlands of Queensland indicated that CA improved grain yield in 2 of 4 years.…”

Section: Conservation Agriculturementioning

confidence: 99%

Organic agriculture and climate change

Scialabba

Müller-Lindenlauf

2010

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

337

120

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This article discusses the mitigation and adaptation potential of organic agricultural systems along three main features: farming system design, cropland management and grassland and livestock management. An important potential contribution of organically managed systems to climate change mitigation is identified in the careful management of nutrients and, hence, the reduction of N2O emissions from soils. Another high mitigation potential of organic agriculture lies in carbon sequestration in soils. In a first estimate, the emission reduction potential by abstention from mineral fertilizers is calculated to be about 20% and the compensation potential by carbon sequestration to be about 40–72% of the world's current annual agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but further research is needed to consolidate these numbers. On the adaptation side, organic agriculture systems have a strong potential for building resilient food systems in the face of uncertainties, through farm diversification and building soil fertility with organic matter. Additionally, organic agriculture offers alternatives to energy-intensive production inputs such as synthetic fertilizers which are likely to be further limited for poor rural populations by rising energy prices. In developing countries, organic agricultural systems achieve equal or even higher yields, as compared to the current conventional practices, which translate into a potentially important option for food security and sustainable livelihoods for the rural poor in times of climate change. Certified organic products cater for higher income options for farmers and, therefore, can serve as promoters for climate-friendly farming practices worldwide.

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Effects of soil management practices and tillage systems on surface soil water conservation and crust formation on a sandy loam in semi-arid Kenya

Cited by 100 publications

References 15 publications

Effects of different management practices on the soil–water balance and crop yield for improved dryland farming in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Effects of different management practices on the soil–water balance and crop yield for improved dryland farming in the Chinese Loess Plateau

Vertical and lateral soil moisture patterns on a Mediterranean karst hillslope

Organic agriculture and climate change

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