Effects of tillage on runoff from a bare clayey soil on a semi-arid ecotope in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Mzezewa, J.; Rensburg, L. van

doi:10.4314/wsa.v37i2.65862

Cited by 27 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Grandy and Robertson (2006) observed that years of soil regeneration can be lost after a single tillage event. Conservation tillage practices which minimize soil disturbance and promotes retention of crop residues on the soil surface are viable options for increasing water use efficiency because they reduce erosion (Giller et al 2011) and increase water infiltration and storage in soil (Nyagumbo 2002;Mzezewa and van Rensburg 2011). Conservation tillage systems such as no tillage (NT) also maintains soil aggregation and higher SOC levels when compared with CT (Zotarelli et al 2005;Grandy and Robertson 2006;Chivenge et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Maize yields under coppicing and non coppicing fallows in a fallow–maize rotation system in central Zimbabwe

et al. 2011

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Fallowing can improve crop yields as a result of improved soil fertility and nutrient status. The objective of this work was to determine the effects of fallows and pruning regimes in coppicing fallows on soil moisture and maize yields under conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT). Fallows that were evaluated were coppicing Acacia angustissima, non coppicing Sesbania sesban, natural fallow (NF) and continuous maize. In 2000/2001 season, maize yields were significantly different (P \ 0.05) among treatments and were; 1.8, 1.2, 0.7 and 0.5 tonnes per hectare (t ha -1 ) under CT, while under NT yields were 1.3, 0.8, 0.7 and 0.2 t ha -1 for A. angustissima, maize, S. sesban and NF plots respectively. In 2001/2002 season, yields decreased in the order S. sesban [ continuous maize [ NF [ A. angustissima, for both CT and NT. The 2-week pruning regime had significantly higher maize yields when compared to the 1 and 3 week pruning regime during the 2002/2003 cropping season. For the three seasons, CT had significantly higher yields than NT. A. angustissima had significantly higher mean available water at suctions \33 kPa for the 0-25 cm depth when compared to other fallow treatments. The bulk of the available water (47-80%) was retained at suction \33 kPa for all treatments and depths. There were no treatment differences in water retention at suctions [33 kPa for all treatments. It was concluded that improved fallowing increased yields when compared to NF. However, in coppicing fallows competition for water can result in reduced yields when there is rainfall deficiency, thus the need for pruning to manage the competition.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Maize yields under coppicing and non coppicing fallows in a fallow–maize rotation system in central Zimbabwe

et al. 2011

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“…This setup delivered 60 mm of rainfall within a time period of 40 minutes corresponding to an intensity of 1.5 mm min −1 (90 mm h −1 ). However, due to mechanical inconsistency of the mobile simulator, observed by Mzezewa and van Rensburg (), an average rainfall intensity of 1.61 mm min −1 was recorded from the experimental sites depicting a mechanical inconsistency of 7%. This inconsistency could have been large if applied rainfall amounts were not monitored by an automated rain gauge in all experimental plots.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing infiltration and internal drainage of South African dryland soils

Mavimbela

Rensburg

2016

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Surface infiltration and internal drainage properties of five soil types from arid drylands of South Africa were studied under double ring infiltrometer, rainfall simulation plots (1 m2) and instantaneous drainage plots (9 m2). Changes in soil water content during 40 minute rainfall simulation for a rainstorm with average intensity of 1.61 mm min−1 and 30 day drainage period were measured at various depths by 1.5 m long capacitance soil water measuring (DFM) probe. Different (P < 0.05) mean surface steady infiltration rate ranged from 0.05 to 4.47 mm min−1 and had a negative power relationship (R2 = 0.65) with horizon clay plus fine silt content. Power regression (R2 ≥ 86%) described rainstorm infiltration and obtained steady rates within an average time of 15 minutes. Mean total infiltrated soil water content was lowest (P < 0.05) from surface horizons with either 47.7% clay plus fine silt content or bulk density of 1.91 g cm−3 and exchangeable sodium of not less than 44 mg kg−1. Surface horizons with lower surface bulk density and total sand fraction of more than 72% had infiltrated depth and mean total infiltrated soil water content up to 40 cm deeper and 0.55 mm mm−1 greater, respectively. Drainage rate at drained upper limit calculated from the Wilcox drainage model (R2 ≤ 0.97%) was 0.2 mm day−1 or less were from underlying horizons with either clay plus fine silt of 45% or soft calcium carbonate. Higher drainage rate with accumulative drainage amount greater than 60 mm were from soil profile horizons with clay plus fine silt content of less than 20% and above unity steady infiltration rates. Rainstorm infiltration and drainage rates was shown to depend on permeability and coarseness of the respective soil surface and subsurface horizons; a phenomenon critical for harnessing rain and flood water to recharge groundwater. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…Equation (1) gives the relationship ( R 2 = 0.97) between precipitation ( P ) and in‐field runoff ( R in , mm). The relationship was obtained using the HoFrey rainfall simulator described by Mzezewa and van Rensburg (). Zerizghy et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

In‐field Rainwater Harvesting: Mechanical Tillage Implements and Scope for Upscaling

Rensburg

Bothma

Fraenkel

et al. 2012

Irrigation and Drainage

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Around the world there is a large difference in crop yields between those obtained by commercial and subsistence farmers. There are many biophysical and socio‐economic reasons for this yield gap. With regard to in‐field rain water harvesting (IRWH), it is considered that crop yields in smallholder farms could be significantly improved by mechanizing the land as part of an IRWH tillage approach. This paper therefore presents the findings of a study that assessed the implements and procedures for applying IRWH. It involved the development of ridge and puddle ploughs. The subsistence farmers who evaluated the performance of the implements were generally satisfied with them. A five‐step procedure was developed for the application of the implements, and valuable lessons were learned with the first large‐scale demonstration of IRWH on croplands. Against the background of these positive results, the scope for upscaling was also explored. It was estimated that IRWH can probably be applied on millions of hectares in sub‐Saharan Africa, and particularly in the Southern African Development Community. Mechanization of IRWH should potentially contribute towards improving food security in sub‐Saharan Africa. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Effects of tillage on runoff from a bare clayey soil on a semi-arid ecotope in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Cited by 27 publications

References 20 publications

Maize yields under coppicing and non coppicing fallows in a fallow–maize rotation system in central Zimbabwe

Maize yields under coppicing and non coppicing fallows in a fallow–maize rotation system in central Zimbabwe

Characterizing infiltration and internal drainage of South African dryland soils

In‐field Rainwater Harvesting: Mechanical Tillage Implements and Scope for Upscaling

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