Soil organic carbon dynamics of improved fallow-maize rotation systems under conventional and no-tillage in Central Zimbabwe

Nyamadzawo, George; Chikowo, Régis; Nyamugafata, P.; Nyamangara, Justice; Giller, Ken E.

doi:10.1007/s10705-007-9154-y

Cited by 44 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…In improved fallows, even though biomass accumulation apparently depends on fallow age, species, and amount of rainfall during the first years of establishment (Kass et al 1993;Mafongoya and Dzowela 1999), management seems to be crucial for carbon sequestration. For instance, results of this study showed that only 40% of C supplied by trees in improved fallows comes from the enrichment as timber trees; the remaining 60% represented trees naturally grown through secondary succession as other authors reported recently (Nyamadzawo et al 2008). The role of species is of crucial importance (Albrecht and Kandji 2003); hence this issue will require more research.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Carbon sequestration through agroforestry in indigenous communities of Chiapas, Mexico

et al. 2009

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The importance of agroforestry systems as carbon sinks has recently been recognized due to the need of climate change mitigation. The objective of this study was to compare the carbon content in living biomass, soil (0-10, 10-20, 20-30 cm in depth), dead organic matter between a set of non-agroforestry and agroforestry prototypes in Chiapas, Mexico where the carbon sequestration programme called Scolel'te has been carried out. The prototypes compared were: traditional maize (rotational prototype with pioneer native trees evaluated in the crop period), Taungya (maize with timber trees), improved fallow, traditional fallow (the last three rotational prototypes in the crop-free period), Inga-shade-organic coffee, polyculture-shade organic coffee, polyculturenon-organic coffee, pasture without trees, pasture with live fences, and pasture with scattered trees. Taungya and improved fallow were designed agroforestry prototypes, while the others were reproduced traditional systems. Seventy-nine plots were selected in three agro-climatic zones. Carbon in living biomass, dead biomass, and soil organic matter was measured in each plot. Results showed that carbon in living biomass and dead organic matter were different according to prototype; while soil organic carbon and total carbon were influenced mostly by the agro-climatic zone (P \ 0.01). Carbon density in the high tropical agro-climatic zone (1,000 m) was higher compared to the intermediate and low tropical agro-climatic zones (600 and 200 m, respectively, P \ 0.01). All the systems contained more carbon than traditional maize and pastures without trees. Silvopastoral systems, improved fallow, Taungya and coffee systems (especially polyculture-shade coffee and organic coffee) have the potential to sequester carbon via growing trees. Agroforestry systems could also contribute to carbon sequestration and reducing emissions when burning is avoided. The potential of organic coffee to maintain carbon in soil and to reduce emissions from deforestation and ecosystem degradation (REDD) is discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Carbon sequestration through agroforestry in indigenous communities of Chiapas, Mexico

et al. 2009

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“…Chivenge et al (2007) point out that tillage plays a significant part in influencing nutrient storage and release from soil organic matter. However, some of these practices lead to the break down in soil organic carbon and destruction of the soil structure resulting in increased runoff and soil and water losses (Nyamadzawo et al, 2008;Thierfelder & Wall, 2009). Deterioration in the structure of the soil can have both short and long term effects on the soil organic matter which in turn will affect soil water content, retention and plant growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Short Term Leguminous Trees-Tillage Interactions and Their Effect on Soil-Water Content in a Semi-Arid Agroforestry Parkland

Kalinda¹,

Mburu²,

Ngamau³

et al. 2015

OJF

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Agricultural activities that encourage slashing, burning and ploughing greatly affect the soil structure and soil organic matter on which soil water retention depends. In this study, we hypothesized that inclusion of rotational leguminous tree species improves soil water retention in a semi-arid conservation agriculture system. In a study done in Kibwezi, semi-arid eastern Kenya, results showed that the amount of water retained in the different soil strata from plots with different tree species and tillage practices was highly significant (P = 0.032). Plots with planting basins and Gliricidia sepium and Faidherbia albida tree species retained more water in both the upper and lower strata. Plots with G. sepium tree species under planting basins and zero tillage under F. albida had significantly higher soil organic carbon levels than plots that were managed under ridges and ploughing (P = 0.002). On the other hand, bulk density in plots with planting basins and zero tillage and ridges ranged between 1.35 g/cm 3 and 1.53 g/cm 3 . Conventional tillage plots had bulk density values of 1.65 g/cm 3 and 1.72 g/cm 3 in the upper and lower strata respectively. The timedependent nature of rotational leguminous tree species on soil organic matter and soil water retention in the semi-arid conservation agriculture system highlights the importance of considering these species for improving organic carbon and water retention for improved crop production.

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“…Elwell and Stocking (1988) reported losses of up to 50% of applied fertilisers in Zimbabwe. High levels of soil and water loss have been attributed to inappropriate tillage practices which have resulted in reduction of soil organic carbon and destruction of soil structure (Mrabet, 2002;Nyamadzawo et al, 2008b;Thierfelder and Wall, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The integration of improved fallowing and conservation tillage can further improve the soil hydraulic properties (Alegre and Rao, 1996;Norwood, 1994), soil water-holding capacity (Nyamadzawo et al, 2008a) and improve organic carbon stocks in soils (Nyamadzawo et al, 2008b). Improved fallows can play an important role in mitigating climate change through carbon sequestration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infiltration and runoff losses under fallowing and conservation agriculture practices on contrasting soils, Zimbabwe

Nyamadzawo¹,

Nyamugafata²,

Wuta³

et al. 2012

WSA

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Fallowing and conservation agriculture are sustainable farming practices that can be used for soil and water conservation. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of different conservation agriculture practices on rainfall infiltration and soil and water losses across 4 sites, using simulated rainfall. The study was carried out at Domboshawa and the Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Chikwaka smallholder farming areas, 4 sites with different soil types. Conservation agriculture practices evaluated were mulch reaping (MR) and clean reaping (CR) at Domboshawa with 5% clay and the Institute of Agricultural Engineering (IAE) with 50% clay. The study also evaluated runoff losses from fallow plots subjected to no tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT) at ICRAF Domboshawa site (20% clay) and fallows subjected to CT in Chikwaka smallholder farming areas (4% clay). Infiltration rates were greater under conservation agriculture practices (>35 mm•h ). On fallows infiltration rates ranged from 24-35 mm•h -1 when compared to <15 mm•h -1 in maize under CT. Runoff losses were highest under CT at both Domboshawa and IAE sites, and were 21.5 and 15% respectively, while there was no runoff under MR and CR. At the ICRAF Domboshawa site, runoff ranged between 0-31% in fallows and was 57% in maize under CT. At Chikwaka runoff in CT maize was 58%, while in fallow plots runoff ranged 37-44%. Soil losses ranged from 0.2-0.3 t•ha -1 per rainfall event in maize, while in fallows, soil loss ranged from 0-0.1 t•ha -1. The results showed that CT resulted in reduced infiltration rates, increased soil and water loss when compared to fallowing and conservation agriculture across different range of soils. Conservation agriculture practices and fallowing are potential sustainable cropping practices that reduce soil and water loss and increase water use efficiency.

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Soil organic carbon dynamics of improved fallow-maize rotation systems under conventional and no-tillage in Central Zimbabwe

Cited by 44 publications

References 32 publications

Carbon sequestration through agroforestry in indigenous communities of Chiapas, Mexico

Carbon sequestration through agroforestry in indigenous communities of Chiapas, Mexico

Short Term Leguminous Trees-Tillage Interactions and Their Effect on Soil-Water Content in a Semi-Arid Agroforestry Parkland

Infiltration and runoff losses under fallowing and conservation agriculture practices on contrasting soils, Zimbabwe

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