Maize (Zea mays) yield and its relationship to soil properties under integrated fertility, mulch and tillage management in urban agriculture

Evaluating the effects of integrated nutrient management and insitu rainwater harvesting on maize production in dry regions of Zimbabwe

“…These results coincides with findings by Coulibaly (2015) who reported higher pearl millet yields after combining mineral fertiliser and cattle manure. The findings also concur with results by Shumba et al (2020) who reported higher yields form a combination of mineral fertiliser and cattle manure on maize grain yields. Nyamangara et al (2005) reported that cattle manure contains both macro and micro-nutrients which improves grain yields and soil properties.…”

“…The results were similar from findings by Kilasara et al (2015) who reported improved sorghum yields from combination of insitu rainwater harvesting and integrated nutrient management options in Tanzania. Higher maize yields from treatment with mineral fertiliser and cattle manure concur with results by Shumba et al (2020) who reported increased maize grain yields in Zimbabwe after combining cattle manure and mineral fertiliser. Treatments with 5 t/ha cattle manure and 50 kg N/ha recorded 2.31 ± 0.036 t/ha and 2.42 ± 0.035 t/ha from Zai pits treatments and were second highest yields for both farming seasons as indicated in Table 2.…”

“…Increased soil moisture stress and inherent soil fertility has been major causes of poor maize production in dry regions of Zimbabwe (Motsi et al, 2019;Nyagumbo et al, 2019). Erratic and low rainfall in arid and semi-arid regions contributed to poor soil moisture and low crop production in dry regions (Mugwe et al, 2019;Shumba et al;Muchai et al, 2020). Combination of low rainfall and low nutrient status has significantly affected crop production in most dry regions in African countries (Yazar and Ali, 2016;Mugwe et al, 2019;Shumba et al;.…”

“…Erratic and low rainfall in arid and semi-arid regions contributed to poor soil moisture and low crop production in dry regions (Mugwe et al, 2019;Shumba et al;Muchai et al, 2020). Combination of low rainfall and low nutrient status has significantly affected crop production in most dry regions in African countries (Yazar and Ali, 2016;Mugwe et al, 2019;Shumba et al;. Erratic rainfall and frequent dry spells affected soil moisture which lead to poor maize growth due to reduced nutrient absorption.…”

“…The use of rainwater harvesting techniques such as tied ridges and zai pits harvest and store water for later use by crops (Milkias et al, 2018) which if amended with organic and inorganic fertiliser leads to increased crop yield. The use of integrated nutrient management has been used by smallholder farmers for many years (Rusinamodzi et al, 2011;Nyamangara et al, 2013;Shumba et al, 2020) in Zimbabwe to improve crop production. The use of insitu rainwater harvesting and integrated nutrient management has the capacity to improve maize production in dry regions across Africa.…”