The dry land areas of Ethiopia account for more than 66.6% of total land area, and are substantial crop producing areas fall within the semi-arid parts. As a result, crops experience moisture stress at any time during their growth stage. The first action to improve agricultural production in the dry land areas is to apply moisture conservation techniques and then use the limited water efficiently for enhancing water productivity. A study was conducted at Holte kebelle of Dirashae district from April 1, 2016-July 31, 2016 to evaluate effects of conventional practice and straw mulch applications on soil moisture conservation and yield of sorghum under rainfed agriculture with six levels of sorghum straw mulch. The experiment was designed as a single factor experiment in randomized complete block design and replicated four times. Soil moisture has been taken for six times of 30 cm interval up to sorghum root depth (90 cm) in 3 weeks interval and analyzed volumetric moisture content. Physical and chemical properties, Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point in respective depths were analyzed. The analysis of variance indicated that there was highly significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) for soil moisture contents determined at 0-30 cm, 30-60 cm and 60-90 cm at different sorghum growth stages and straw applied. 2.2 and 3.0 ton/ha straw mulch prolonged the days to harvesting due to more moisture conservation in the soil profile and significant in growth and yield parameters. The maximum volumetric soil moisture content was recorded in 2.2 and 3.0 ton/ha straw mulch, which were between the Field Capacity and Permanent Wilting Point at different growth stages of sorghum however, grain yield was higher in 2.2 t/ha. Based on the experiment therefore, application of 2.2 ton/ha of sorghum straw mulch was found more effective in conserving soil moisture for maximum yield under rain-fed agricultural system better than other treatments.
Water is the common medium for several life processes; it is very limited in semi-arid climatic zone for growth and development. A coping mechanism; water management includes understanding about the release pattern and storage of water by the soil. The emphasis given to the conservation practices in conserving and retaining moisture is very limited in semi-arid zone of southern Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to characterize the three conservation practices in relation to moisture with various soil depths. Erratic rain fall over the season makes harsh for growing vegetations. Indigenous conservation practice in the form of (mona, poteya and targa), trash line and stony with little straw were evaluated for their volumetric moisture content. SAS 9.2 version was used to analyze the data, for instance, there was statistically difference (P ≤0.05) among conservation practices and there was statistically difference between indigenous and trash line conservation practices over the stony with little straw conservation practice over the growing period and depth intervals of the profile.
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