Effect of contour rainwater-harvesting and integrated nutrient management on sorghum grain yield in semi-arid farming environments of Zimbabwe

Kubiku, Friday Nguvayasvika Mudondo; Nyamadzawo, George; Nyamangara, Justice; Mandumbu, Ronald

doi:10.1080/09064710.2021.2005130

Cited by 16 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Availability of soil moisture increased nutrient uptake which improved sorghum growth causing heavier stover to be produced. These results support findings by others in the literature 4,18,38‐40 who reported increased sorghum grain and stover yield with the use of IPs. Differences in total rainfall received across semi‐arid areas in Africa greatly influence variation in results between various researches.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Rainwater harvesting and Leucaena leucocephala biomass rates effects on soil moisture, water use efficiency and Sorghum bicolor [(L.) Moench] productivity in a semi‐arid area in Zimbabwe

2022

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BACKGROUND: Sorghum is one of the major staple crops in Sub Saharan Africa but its production is mainly limited by moisture stress, frequent droughts and soil infertility, especially in the smallholder farming systems. This raises the need to develop climate smart options to improve sorghum production. The objective was to assess the effects of rainwater harvesting and use of different Leucaena leucocephala biomass rates on soil moisture content, rainwater use efficiency, and stover and grain yields in two sorghum varieties (Macia and SV1). The experiment was laid as a randomized complete block design in split-split plot arrangement from 2017/2018 to 2019/2020 season. RESULTS:The results show that tied contour (TC) and infiltration pits (IPs) significantly (P < 0.05) increased soil moisture content than standard contour (SC). Soil moisture content increased gradually with the increase in soil depth (20-40 cm > 0-20 cm), with 2018/2019 season having the maximum soil moisture content. Soil moisture content also increased with the increase in application rates of Leucaena biomass. Grain and stover yields were significantly (P < 0.05) increased by all Leucaena biomass application rates with higher yield observed in 2018/2019 season. SC had significantly lower grain and stover yields at all Leucaena biomass application rates. TC and IPs had comparable rainwater use efficiency compared to SC. Rainwater use efficiency increased with application rates of Leucaena biomass across all seasons and varieties. CONCLUSION: TC and IPs are better adaptive mechanisms against drought spells in semi-arid areas and can be combined with 10 t ha −1 of Leucaena biomass due to better yield increments realized.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Rainwater harvesting and Leucaena leucocephala biomass rates effects on soil moisture, water use efficiency and Sorghum bicolor [(L.) Moench] productivity in a semi‐arid area in Zimbabwe

2022

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“…This concurs with findings by several authors (e.g. Mupangwa et al, 2012;Nyamadzawo et al, 2015;Nyagumbo et al, 2019;Kubiku et al, 2022) who reported low yields from standard contours.…”

Section: Grain and Stover Yieldsupporting

confidence: 93%

“…Organic nutrient sources such as Leucaena biomass have the capacity to increase SOC, microbial population and soil total porosity (Mafongoya and Dzowela, 1999) which when augmented with mineral fertiliser can significantly increase sorghum grain yields. This was in agreement with Kilasara et al (2015) and Kubiku et al (2022) who reported increased sorghum yields after combining organic manure and mineral fertiliser. Increasing application rates of Leucaena biomass þ NPK fertiliser improved soil structure, nutrient status and sorghum yields.…”

Section: Grain and Stover Yieldsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…This may be attributed to better water capture by tied contours compared to infiltration pits and standard contours. This corroborates with results by Kubiku et al (2022) who reported higher yields from tied contours combined with cattle manure þ N fertiliser. Related researches in Africa show that integration of rainwater harvesting with INM increased sorghum grain yields especially in arid and semi-arid areas (Zougmor e et al, 2003;Kilasara et al, 2015;Kimaru, 2017).…”

Section: Grain and Stover Yieldsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Mupangwa et al, 2006;Nyakudya et al, 2014;Kilasara et al, 2015;Nyamadzawo et al, 2015;Mahinda et al, 2018;Nyagumbo et al, 2019;Chilagane et al, 2020;Mandumbu et al, 2021) who reported improved water retention which results in increasing grain yields. Rainwater harvesting techniques retain water in the plant root zone, improving soil moisture content and grain yields (Mandumbu et al, 2021;Kubiku et al, 2022). Availability of water in the plant root zone influence nutrient availability to plants, improve response of crops to nutrients and increase nutrient use efficiency (Mupangwa et al, 2012;Kilasara et al, 2015;Mahinda et al, 2018;Kugedera and Kokerai, 2019;Chilagane et al, 2020;Mandumbu et al, 2021).…”

Section: Grain and Stover Yieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Augmenting Leucaena leucocephala biomass with mineral fertiliser on rainwater use efficiency, agronomic efficiency and yields on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [(L.) Moench]) under rainwater harvesting techniques in semi-arid region of Zimbabwe

Kugedera

Nyamadzawo

Mandumbu

2022

Heliyon

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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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Effect of contour rainwater-harvesting and integrated nutrient management on sorghum grain yield in semi-arid farming environments of Zimbabwe

Cited by 16 publications

References 27 publications

Rainwater harvesting and Leucaena leucocephala biomass rates effects on soil moisture, water use efficiency and Sorghum bicolor [(L.) Moench] productivity in a semi‐arid area in Zimbabwe

Rainwater harvesting and Leucaena leucocephala biomass rates effects on soil moisture, water use efficiency and Sorghum bicolor [(L.) Moench] productivity in a semi‐arid area in Zimbabwe

Augmenting Leucaena leucocephala biomass with mineral fertiliser on rainwater use efficiency, agronomic efficiency and yields on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [(L.) Moench]) under rainwater harvesting techniques in semi-arid region of Zimbabwe

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

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