Medium-term effects of conservation agriculture based cropping systems for sustainable soil and water management and crop productivity in the Ethiopian highlands

Araya, Tesfay; Cornelis, Wim; Nyssen, Jan; Govaerts, Bram; Getnet, Fekadu; Bauer, Hans; Amare, Kassa; Raes, Dirk; Haile, Mitiku; Deckers, Jozef

doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2011.12.009

Cited by 79 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Mean soil loss over five years for CA (14.4 t ha -1 ) was significantly less than from PT (35.4 t ha -1 ), as reported by Tesfay Araya et al (2012). For 2011, mean soil loss was 16.2 t ha -1 (CA) and 33.0 t ha -1 (PT).…”

Section: Soil Losssupporting

confidence: 51%

“…Fertilizer (di-ammonium phosphate for all crops and urea for all crops except grass pea) was applied at 100 kg ha -1 . From 2007 on, non-selective herbicide glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycin), sprayed at 2 L ha -1 three to four days before planting, replaced weeding by hand (Tesfay Araya et al, 2012).…”

Section: Rainfall Runoff and Soil Loss At The Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Located within farmers' fields in Zenako (upper catchment of MZZ), six rectangular plots (size 5 m x 14 m, soil type Vertic Cambisol, slope gradients of 6.5%, and high stone cover) are monitored since (Tesfay Araya et al, 2012. Two tillage practices were applied with ard plough (maresha): plain tillage (three tillage operations, harvest without leaving residues, and weeding by hand), and derdero+.…”

Section: Rainfall Runoff and Soil Loss At The Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Every morning, after stirring the water in the trenches, 4 L of water from each trench was collected and filtered with a funnel and Whatman 42 filter paper (pore size of 2.5 µm). The sediment in the filter paper was oven-dried for 24 hours at 105 °C and weighed to quantify daily soil loss (Tesfay Araya et al, 2012).…”

Section: Rainfall Runoff and Soil Loss At The Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The CA-technique applied in the North Ethiopian Highlands is named derdero+ . This technique consists of (i) the creation of beds and furrows after seed broadcasting, in order to increase water storage (derdero); (ii) the application of zero tillage (beds are never ploughed, the furrows are refreshed only once a year at sowing); (iii) leaving 30% standing stubble, in order to increase soil organic carbon and improve soil structure; and (iv) using herbicide to control weeds (Tesfay Araya et al, 2012). In order to increase adoption by local farmers, plowing is done with the traditional ard plough or maresha (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of conservation agriculture on catchment runoff and soil loss under changing climate conditions in May Zeg-zeg (Ethiopia)

Lanckriet

Araya

Cornelis

et al. 2012

Journal of Hydrology

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This study evaluates the practice of conservation agriculture (CA) in the May Zeg-zeg catchment (MZZ; 187 ha) in the North Ethiopian Highlands as a soil management technique for reducing soil loss and runoff, and assesses the consequences of future large-scale implementation on soil and hydrology at catchment-level. The study of such practice is important especially under conditions of climate change, since EdGCM (Educational Global Climate Model) simulation predicts by 2040 an increase in precipitation by more than 100 mm yr -1 in the study area. Firstly, field-saturated infiltration rates, together with soil texture and soil organic carbon contents, were measured. The relation with local topography allows to generate a pedotransfer function for field-saturated infiltration rate, and spatial interpolation with Linear Regression Mapping was used to map field-saturated infiltration rates optimally within the catchment. Secondly, on several farmlands, CA was checked against Plain Tillage (PT) for values of field-saturated infiltration rates, soil organic carbon, runoff and soil loss. Results show no significant differences for infiltration rates but significant differences for runoff and soil loss (as measured in the period [2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010][2011]. Runoff coefficients were 30.4% for PT and 18.8% for CA; soil losses were 35.4 t ha -1 yr -1 for PT and 14.4 t ha -1 yr -1 for CA. Thirdly, all collected information was used to predict future catchment hydrological response for full-implementation of CA under the predicted wetter climate (simulation with EdGCM). Curve Numbers for farmlands with CA were calculated. An area-weighted Curve Number allows the simulation of the 2011 rainy season runoff, predicting a total runoff depth of 23.5 mm under CA and 27.9 mm under PT. Furthermore, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation management factor P was calibrated for CA. Results also show the important Lanckriet, S., Tesfay Araya, Cornelis, W., Verfaillie, E., Poesen, J., Govaerts, B., Bauer, H., Deckers, S., Mitiku Haile, Nyssen, J., 2012. Impacts of conservation agriculture on runoff and soil loss under changing climate conditions in May Zeg-zeg (Ethiopia). Journal of Hydrology, influence of increased surface roughness on water ponding, modeled with a hydrologic conservation balance. By coupling this model with the infiltration rate map, a 'ponding map' of the catchment was established. Finally, a sediment budget for a full future implementation scenario of CA has been estimated, predicting a large impact of CA on sheet and rill erosion rates, since total soil loss due to sheet and rill erosion in cropland would become 581 t yr -1 instead of 1109 t yr -1 , if CA would be practiced in MZZ. Simulation of several policy scenarios shows that especially under a future wetter North-East-African climate, CA would be a beneficial alternative for the current plain tillage, as it will increase infiltration and keep runoff coefficients under control.

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Section: Soil Losssupporting

confidence: 51%

Section: Rainfall Runoff and Soil Loss At The Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rainfall Runoff and Soil Loss At The Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Rainfall Runoff and Soil Loss At The Experimental Plotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of conservation agriculture on catchment runoff and soil loss under changing climate conditions in May Zeg-zeg (Ethiopia)

Lanckriet

Araya

Cornelis

et al. 2012

Journal of Hydrology

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Seasonal Surface Drainage of Sloping Farmland: A Review of Its Hydrogeomorphic Impacts

et al. 2014

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The combination of runoff-generating areas (saturated soils) and overland flow concentration in features such as drainage ditches makes sloping farmland vulnerable to soil erosion. The establishment of drainage ditches aims at draining the excess of water from the farmland, particularly in areas where soils are saturated in the rainy season. The hydrogeomorphic impacts on the farmland itself and on downstream areas need however also to be studied. Off site, downstream problems comprise higher peak discharges, leading to gully initiation, an increase in sediment load, and flooding problems. On-site problems such as the development of the drainage ditches into (ephemeral) gullies are less documented, although they may be important, as illustrated in the Lake Tana Basin (Ethiopia). The similarities and interactions between ephemeral gully channels and drainage ditches have to be considered to better understand all effects of drainage. Drainage ditches are a potential source of conflict between farmers with different interests and power, as well as between upstream and downstream users. A case study on drainage ditches on sloping farmlands in the Lake Tana Basin showed that nine out of ten catchments had drainage densities by ditches ranging from 53 to 510 m ha À1 . Drainage ditches were constructed with an average top width of 27 (±9) cm. A significant correlation was found between stone bund density (physical conservation structures) and ditch drainage density (R = À0·72), in line with the Ethiopian government's ban on drainage ditches in farmlands where stone bunds have been constructed.

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Effect of Cropping System on Physical Properties of Clay Soil Under Intensive Rice Cultivation

Van

Elsacker

et al. 2014

Land Degrad Dev

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Cropping systems are thought to alter soil quality in paddy rice fields. This study was conducted to quantify the long-term effects of continuous crop production under different cropping systems with different crop rotations on physical properties of alluvial clay soil in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Soil samples were collected from four treatments: (i) traditional intensive rice monoculture with three rice crops per year (R-R-R); (ii) rotation with two rice crops and maize (R-M-R); (iii) rotation with two rice crops and mung bean (R-Mb-R); and (iv) rotation with one rice and two upland crops, mung bean and maize (R-Mb-M). We hypothesized that cropping systems with rotations of upland crops and their temporary beds improve the physical quality of paddy rice soil; hence, they are better options towards sustainable agriculture. Results show an improvement of soil physical quality for systems with two rice crops and one upland crop (R-M-R and R-Mb-R) and those with one rice crop with two upland crops (R-Mb-M) compared with intensive rice monoculture (R-R-R). This was translated in decreased bulk density and soil strength, increased soil organic carbon and total porosity, and higher aggregate stability index, plant-available water capacity, and Dexter's S index, especially at depths of 10-20 and 20-30 cm. The systems with different upland crops (maize or mung bean) showed similar high physical quality improvement. To maintain soil quality in future seasons, introducing a cropping system with at least one upland crop in rotation with rice is recommended.

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Medium-term effects of conservation agriculture based cropping systems for sustainable soil and water management and crop productivity in the Ethiopian highlands

Cited by 79 publications

References 20 publications

Impact of conservation agriculture on catchment runoff and soil loss under changing climate conditions in May Zeg-zeg (Ethiopia)

Impact of conservation agriculture on catchment runoff and soil loss under changing climate conditions in May Zeg-zeg (Ethiopia)

Seasonal Surface Drainage of Sloping Farmland: A Review of Its Hydrogeomorphic Impacts

Effect of Cropping System on Physical Properties of Clay Soil Under Intensive Rice Cultivation

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