The Effect of Tied Ridge Cultivation on the Yield of Maize and a Maize/Cowpea Relay in the Gambia

Abstract

The growing season in the semi-arid region of West Africa is drought prone and of irregular duration. Two experiments were conducted in 1986 and 1987 to test the effects of flat cultivation and tied ridge cultivation (TRC) on the yields of maize and the component crops of a maize and cowpea relay cropping system. The two research sites, with slopes of 0.05% and 3%, were near Sapu, The Gambia, on an Aridic Kandiustalf in the 700 mm rainfall zone.Both growing seasons had above average rainfall. In both years, maize on level sites showed no response to tillage practices. On the sloped site in 1987, soil moisture 10 and 15 days after the last rain was greater with TRC than with flat cultivation and yields of sole cowpea and maize were 25% and 18% greater, respectively. On the level site, TRC had no effect on residual soil moisture or grain yield. When rainfall was well distributed, tied ridging did not appear to be a viable tillage alternative for maize-based systems on flat land in central Gambia but with modest slopes, tied ridges markedly increased soil water reserves in the 0.15 to 0.60 m depth after maize harvest.El efecto del cullivo transversal en laderas respecto del rendimiento de maizy un reemplazo de maiz/caupien Gambia RESUMEN La temporada de crecimiento en la region semiarida de Africa Occidental es propensa a la sequia y tiene una duration irregular. Se Uevaron a cabo dos experimentos en 1986 y 1987 para comprobar los efectos del cultivo llano y el cultivo transversal en laderas respecto de los rendimientos del maiz y las cosechas componentes de un sistema de cultivo de reemplazo de maiz y caupi. Las dos areas de investigation, con pendientes de 0,05% y 5%, estaban cerca de Sapu, Gambia, en un 'Aridic Kandiustalf en la zona de 700 mm de precipitaciones.Ambas temporadas de crecimiento tuvieron precipitaciones por encima del promedio. En ambos afios, el maiz en los emplazamientos llanos no mostro respuesta alguna a las practicas de cultivo. En los emplazamientos con pendiente, en 1987 la humedad del suelo 10 y 15 dias despiies de la ultima lluvia fur mayor con el sistema transversal que con el sistema de cultivo llano, y los rendimientos del caupi solo y el maiz solo fueron un 25% y un 18% superiores, respectivamente. En al area liana, el sistema transversal no tuvo ningun efecto sobre la humedad residual del suelo ni sobre el redimiento del grano. Cuando las precipitaciones estuvieron bien distribuidas, el sistema transversal no parecio ser una alternativa de labranza viable para los sistemas a base de maiz en las llanuras del centro de Gambia, pero con pequenas pendientes, el sistema transversal incremento en gran medida las reservas de agua en el suelo en la profundidad de 0,15 a 0,60 m, luego de la cosecha del maiz.Present addresses: fUSAID/FEWS, 01 BP 35, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and ^University of Wisconsin-Madison,

Analysis of Intra and Interseasonal Rainfall Variability and Its Effects on Pearl Millet Yield in a Semiarid Agroclimate: Significance of Scattered Fields and Tied Ridges

“…Therefore, farmers should use this in situ rainwater harvesting (tied ridges) method in their scattered fields to reduce harvest losses and to manage the high rainfall variability. Elsewhere in semiarid areas, the practice has been successful for other cereals, such as maize [38][39][40] and sorghum [2,39]. However, in our study, we found that tied ridges increased spatial yield variability.…”

Modelling Rainfed Pearl Millet Yield Sensitivity to Abiotic Stresses in Semi-Arid Central Tanzania, Eastern Africa

“…Under MD, optimum yields are obtained under temperature increases of +1.0 • C and changes in precipitation of +30%. Thus, in cases of high temporal rainfall variability, as in our case study site, it is advised that farmers adopt infield rainwater harvesting, such as tied ridges [25,44,45,[53][54][55], since they prolonging soil moisture. Although alternatives like providing irrigation may be effective, not only do these require further investigation regarding cost-benefit advantages, but these also may come with insurmountably high initial investment costs [30,31].…”

Crop Upgrading Strategies and Modelling for Rainfed Cereals in a Semi-Arid Climate—A Review

“…Contour strips (ridges) and tied ridges Kenya [27,101], Gambia [102], Tanzania [103], Ethiopia [92,104], Nigeria [105] Contour strips and tied ridges decrease soil erosion, enhance groundwater recharge and prolong soil moisture availability…”

“…Tied ridges provide a better crop growth environment [102,148,149] in areas where the temporal rainfall variability is a challenge. Evidence of higher cereal yields and increased rain water use efficiency [27,101], and even better income [92,104], have been reported.…”

“…Thus, when rainfall is well distributed during the cropping season, tied ridging is not a necessary tillage alternative for cereals such as maize on flat land. However, when tied ridges are used in areas with modest slopes, they markedly increase soil water reserves at 0.15 to 0.60 m depths after maize harvest [102]. This strategy is limited by the difficulties related to mechanization [150] and excess rainfall.…”