Potential of field edge rainwater harvesting, biomass transfer and integrated nutrient management in improving sorghum productivity in semi-arid regions: a review

Kugedera, Andrew Tapiwa; Nyamadzawo, George; Mandumbu, Ronald; Nyamangara, Justice

doi:10.1007/s10457-022-00751-w

Cited by 21 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Infiltration pits combined with TR and PH performed better than STDC integrated with PH and TR. This may have been caused by poor water harvesting of STDC which disposed‐off runoff from the field resulting in moisture stress which deliberately affected grain filling stage and movement of photosynthetic carbohydrates from leaves to grain hence lower yields (Kubiku, Mandumbu, et al, 2022; Kugedera, Nyamadzawo, Mandumbu, Nyamangara, 2022; Kugedera et al, 2022a). Nyamadzawo et al (2015) reported that TC can be the cheapest option for farmers which if combined by other cheaper options like TR can boost maize grain yields since the construction of BAS is labour intensive (Masaka et al, 2019; Marumbi et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…RWUE also showed a consistently similar trend to yields, implying the lack of prowess of the two contour‐based water harvesting structures as climate change adaptation strategies. Contour‐based water harvesting entails the need for lateral conveyance of the harvested water across the contour bound to the maize crop grown on the downslope side (Kugedera, Nyamadzawo, Mandumbu, Nyamangara, 2022; Nyagumbo et al, 2019). This process can be inefficient due to several factors, among them deep percolation water losses and high evaporation losses from sandy soils which have low water retention capacity to combat these processes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This calls for the need to come up with strategies to increase food production to meet household food demand and reduce poverty (Bado et al, 2022). Crop production in semi‐arid areas is mainly constrained by water stress due to low and erratic rainfall which is unevenly distributed affecting critical crop growth stages such as flowering and grain filling (Kubiku, Nyamadzawo et al, 2022; Kugedera et al, 2022a; Kugedera et al, 2022b; Nyagumbo et al, 2019). Soils in most smallholder farming environments are sandy characterised with low water retention capacity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Contour‐based rainwater harvesting techniques such as infiltration pits and tied contours (TCs) are permanent structures which can have a long‐lasting solution in reducing surface runoff and recharging soil moisture during dry spells (Kubiku, Nyamadzawo, et al, 2022; Kugedera et al, 2022b). Adoption of semi‐permanent field edge rain water harvesting (RWH) techniques such as TC can be a cheaper option to smallholder farmers when it comes to labour requirements compared with infield RWH practices which are made on an annual basis (Kugedera, Nyamadzawo, Mandumbu, Nyamangara, 2022; Nyamadzawo et al, 2015; Nyagumbo et al, 2019). In Zimbabwe, the STDC were designed to disposed off rainwater from the fields, and not impound water, to combat moisture stress (Kugedera, Nyamadzawo, Mandumbu, Nyamangara, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adoption of semi‐permanent field edge rain water harvesting (RWH) techniques such as TC can be a cheaper option to smallholder farmers when it comes to labour requirements compared with infield RWH practices which are made on an annual basis (Kugedera, Nyamadzawo, Mandumbu, Nyamangara, 2022; Nyamadzawo et al, 2015; Nyagumbo et al, 2019). In Zimbabwe, the STDC were designed to disposed off rainwater from the fields, and not impound water, to combat moisture stress (Kugedera, Nyamadzawo, Mandumbu, Nyamangara, 2022). However, the modification of the STDC, into water‐impounding structures can result in improved water retention and crop yields.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of different rainwater harvesting techniques for improved maize productivity in semi‐arid regions of Zimbabwe with sandy soils

Chiturike

Nyamadzawo

Gotosa

et al. 2022

J of Sust Agri & Env

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Background Maize production in semi‐arid areas has been hindered by moisture stress and poor soil fertility. Long frequent droughts and shortening of growing seasons have been causing yield reduction. Limited knowledge of soil water management by farmers is another key contributor to poor maize yields in the smallholder sector. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the effects of contour‐based and field‐based water harvesting technologies on maize grain yield and rainwater use efficiency under rain‐fed conditions on three farms (Jera, Kudzeeta and Manjengwa) with sandy soils in the Marange smallholder farming area of Zimbabwe. The experiment was laid out as a split plot in a randomised complete block design with three replications at each site. Contour‐based rainwater harvesting structures were the main treatments comprising tied contour (TC), standard contour (STDC) and infiltration pits (IP). Field‐based rainwater harvesting structures were the subplot treatments comprising tied ridges (TR), pot holing (PH) and the flat system (FLAT). Results Results showed that the contour‐based water harvesting structures significantly influenced (p < 0.05) maize grain yields. TCs had the highest maize grain yields compared with infiltration pits and STDCs over two cropping seasons. Maize yields on field‐based TR were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than on the FLAT but were not different (p > 0.05) with what was obtained on PH. The combination of TC and TR water harvesting technologies resulted in significantly higher maize yields (p < 0.05) than other combinations. TR and STDC also gave higher maize grain yield at Jera farm which was significantly different from other two farms. Rainwater use efficiency followed the same trend as maize grain yields, with TC having higher values but not significantly different (p > 0.05) from STDC. Conclusion It can be concluded that farmers in semi‐arid areas adopt a combination of TC with either TR or PH to improve rainwater use efficiency and maize yields.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of different rainwater harvesting techniques for improved maize productivity in semi‐arid regions of Zimbabwe with sandy soils

Chiturike

Nyamadzawo

Gotosa

et al. 2022

J of Sust Agri & Env

Self Cite

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Determinants of the accuracy of using carbon isotopes in estimating water use efficiency of selected cereal and legume crops: A global perspective

Mutanda,

Chaplot,

Shimelis

et al. 2024

Food and Energy Security

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Field assessments of crop water use efficiency (WUE) are resource‐consuming since they require simultaneous assessment of the total amount of water assimilated by crops for biomass and/or grain production. Alternative methods exist, such as estimating the carbon isotopic ratio (13C/12C) of the crop's leaf, aboveground biomass, or grain samples. There is limited information on the determinants of the accuracy of carbon isotopes in estimating water use efficiency between crop types and environments. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the extent to which the estimation of the 13C/12C ratio in crop parts constitutes an accurate proxy of WUE, globally. Data on observed WUE (WUEobs) were collated involving 518 experiments conducted worldwide on major cereals and legumes and compared with WUE estimates (WUEest) from carbon isotopes. The mean WUEobs among all experiments was 3.4 g L−1 and the mean absolute error (MAE) was 0.5 g L−1 or 14.7% of WUEobs, corresponding to accurate predictions at p < 0.05. However, the percentage mean absolute error of observed water use efficiency (%MAE) estimated from grains was 3.6 ± 11.5%, which was lower than the %MAE from aboveground biomass collected at harvest (3 ± 22.8%). In addition, the %MAE increased from 1.1 ± 5.1% for soybean, 1.6 ± 7.2% for maize, 1.2 ± 8.6% for rice, 1.8 ± 12.1% for groundnut, 2.1 ± 14.3% for cowpea, 2.3 ± 16.2% for bush bean, 1.8 ± 19.9% for wheat, 2.2 ± 21.4% for barley to 6.3 ± 39.3% for oat, with only the latter corresponding to significant errors. WUEest were, in all cases, unbiased but slightly overestimated from 0.8% (maize) to 15.4% (oat). The accuracy in estimating WUE significantly decreased with the increase in soil clay content, with sand, showing a positive correlation of 0.3 with %MAE, but negatively correlated with the silt content (r = −0.4). Furthermore, a multivariate analysis pointed out a tendency for prediction errors and bias to increase with the decrease in WUEobs and air temperature. Using carbon isotopes for estimating crop WUE thus appeared reliable for all crops and world environments, provided grain samples are considered. The technique tended to perform better under high WUE conditions, such as those generally found in maize and soybean cropping systems. The identified factors that affect the accuracy of using carbon isotopes in measuring WUE provide valuable insights for water resource management and sustainable crop production. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on water conservation strategies in agriculture, offering a basis for decision‐making in crop improvement programs. Implementing the recommended practices from this study can potentially improve yield gains and promote resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in the changing environmental circumstances. Further research should investigate the mechanisms that cause low accuracy of the isotopic technique using aboveground biomass and under arid and cool environments.

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Enhancing Sorghum bicolor (L.) grain yield with the use of field edge rainwater harvesting and NPK fertiliser in a dry region of Zimbabwe

Kugedera

Nyamadzawo

Mandumbu

et al. 2022

J of Sust Agri & Env

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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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Potential of field edge rainwater harvesting, biomass transfer and integrated nutrient management in improving sorghum productivity in semi-arid regions: a review

Cited by 21 publications

References 66 publications

Evaluation of different rainwater harvesting techniques for improved maize productivity in semi‐arid regions of Zimbabwe with sandy soils

Evaluation of different rainwater harvesting techniques for improved maize productivity in semi‐arid regions of Zimbabwe with sandy soils

Determinants of the accuracy of using carbon isotopes in estimating water use efficiency of selected cereal and legume crops: A global perspective

Enhancing Sorghum bicolor (L.) grain yield with the use of field edge rainwater harvesting and NPK fertiliser in a dry region of Zimbabwe

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