Soil tillage and crop productivity on a Vertisol in Ethiopian highlands

The aim of conservation agriculture (CA) is to improve soil quality and crop yield whilst reducing runoff and topsoil erosion. An experiment was carried out in a rainfed field using a permanent raised bed planting system for 3 yr (2005-2007) in Adigudem, northern Ethiopia in order to evaluate the effect of CA on runoff, soil loss and crop yield. CA practices were introduced in fields with Vertisols in a randomized complete block design on permanent 5 x 19 m plots. Three treatments were evaluated: (1) conventional tillage (CT) with a minimum of three tillage operations and removal of crop residues, (2) terwah (TER) that was similar to CT except that contour furrows were included at 1.5 m intervals, and (3) derdero+ (DER+), which consists of permanent raised beds with a furrow and bed system, retention of 30% of standing crop residues and zero tillage on the top of the bed. All ploughing as well as the maintenance of the furrows of the permanent raised beds was done using a local ard plough called maresha. Results from monitoring over 3 yr showed that soil loss and runoff were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in CT followed by TER and DER+. Average soil losses of 5.2, 20.1 and 24.2 t/ha were recorded from DER+, TER and CT, respectively. Runoff was 46.3, 76.3 and 98.1 mm from DER+, TER and CT, respectively. Grain yield was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in DER+ under teff in 2006, probably due to the high sensitivity of teff to weeds. The yield of wheat in 2007 was significantly higher in DER+ followed by TER. The terwah system is recommended as a first measure for wider adoption to reduce runoff and soil loss and to increase crop yield. The long-term goal is to achieve a derdero+ system, i.e. a permanent raised bed planting system along with the application of crop residues

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“…, 2002). Erkossa et al. (2005) report higher runoff and soil losses from non‐permanent broad bed and furrows compared to CT.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Araya

Cornelis

Nyssen

et al. 2011

Soil Use and Management

102

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“…This is presumably due to the textural changes in soil properties and loss of soil organic matter as a result of land degradation which occurred through time due to the ever-increasing human population and livestock, deforestation, long time intensive cultivation, cereal mono-cropping, soil erosion, etc. (Erkossa et al 2006, Tadege 2007. It may also be conjectured that the amount of mineral fertilizer farmers apply is often too small to trigger perceivable yield increases or that the landraces farmers refer to are adapted to low input conditions and, therefore, are barely responsive to fertilizer application.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On-farm Diversity and Characterization of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Landraces in the Highlands of West Shewa, Ethiopia

Eticha

Sinebo

Grausgruber

2010

Ethnobot. Res. App.

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“…Sowing dates were on 12 July 2005 for Akaki and on 21 July 2005 for Debre Zeit. Broad Bed and Furrows (BBF) was used to facilitate surface drainage of the Vertisols [18]. Split application of N fertilizer at sowing (50%, except the control) and the remaining at the end of tillering has been done to reduce the risk of loss by applying a single, high nitrogen early in the season ( [19,20].…”

Section: Treatments and Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen fertilization effects on grain quality of durum wheat (<i>Triticum turgidum</i> L. var. durum) varieties in central Ethiopia

Gerba¹,

Belay²,

Worku³

2013

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ABSTRACTwere assessed. Protein and gluten content, vitreous kernel count, thousand kernel weight, test weight and lodging were considered. Vitreous kernel count, protein and gluten content were higher at Debre Zeit than at Akaki. Unlike Debre Zeit, there were significant relationships between response variables and fertilizer levels at Akaki. Lodging slightly affected the medium tall varieties at Debre Zeit whereas it was not a problem at Akaki. At Akaki, varieties response to each additional N rate was entirely below the quality standard set by ICC, 2000 except for thousandkernel weight. Therefore, it is unwise to promote durum wheat scaling up/out program for quality production at Akaki.

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Soil tillage and crop productivity on a Vertisol in Ethiopian highlands

Cited by 45 publications

References 4 publications

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

On-farm Diversity and Characterization of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Landraces in the Highlands of West Shewa, Ethiopia

Nitrogen fertilization effects on grain quality of durum wheat (<i>Triticum turgidum</i> L. var. durum) varieties in central Ethiopia

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Soil tillage and crop productivity on a Vertisol in Ethiopian highlands

Cited by 45 publications

References 4 publications

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Effects of conservation agriculture on runoff, soil loss and crop yield under rainfed conditions in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

On-farm Diversity and Characterization of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Landraces in the Highlands of West Shewa, Ethiopia

Nitrogen fertilization effects on grain quality of durum wheat (&lt;i&gt;Triticum turgidum&lt;/i&gt; L. var. durum) varieties in central Ethiopia

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Nitrogen fertilization effects on grain quality of durum wheat (<i>Triticum turgidum</i> L. var. durum) varieties in central Ethiopia