Conservation farming strategies in East and Southern Africa: Yields and rain water productivity from on-farm action research
Date
2009Author
Rockström, J.
Kaumbutho, P.
Mwalley, J.
Nzabi, A. W.
Temesgen, M.
Mawenya, L.
Barron, J.
Mutua, J.
Damgaard-Larsen, S.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Conservation farming for smallholders has been primarily applied and researched in humid and sub-humid regions, where it has shown significant improvements in agricultural productivity. In these regions, water generally is not a limiting constraint on plant growth and CF methods emphasize no-till or minimal tillage and mulch cover. However, in semi-arid and arid regions, rainfall variability and scarcity are significant constraints to productivity, the potential for attaining substantial mulch coverage is low, and no-tillage contributes to a soil crust that further decreases water infiltration. This study develops a CF approach focused on non-inversion tillage methods, adapted to the needs of arid and semi-arid agriculture. Using a participatory approach with local farmers and extension agents, trials comparing CF and conventional farming, with and without fertilization, were conducted in Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Neither CF tillage methods nor fertilization alone showed a significant improvement, but CF methods with fertilization improved both yields and water productivity (amount of water required per unit of crop). The improvements of CF over conventional farming methods were especially pronounced in seasons with the lowest rainfall, suggesting that CF could be a valuable water harvesting method in water-scarce regions.
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Winning the Water Wars: watersheds, water policies and water institutions
Rola, A. (ed.); Liguton, J. (ed.); Francisco, H. (ed.) (Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Institute for Development Studies, 2004) -
Competing uses of water: The cases of Angat, Laguna, Batangas and Cebu City
Tabios, G.; David, C. (Makati City, Philippines: Philippine Institute for Development Studies, 2002)Water plays an essential part in every economic activity and this is the major reason for competition in water usage as well as the basis for the government to come into the picture. What may sound trivial and unbelievable ... -
Water quality and human needs in Cotacachi: The Pivachi Watershed
Aragundy, J.; Zapata Ríos, X. (Cambridge, MA: CABI Publishing, 2006)Chapter 14 discusses the results of the SANREM 5-year water monitoring project. Generally addressing the issues of water quality, availability, the study finds that the amount of usable water per capita is in decline. ...