Effects of conservation agriculture techniques on infiltration and soil water content in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper discusses the results of researcher-managed field trials in Zimbabwe (sandy soil) and Zambia (finer-textured soil) 2005-2007, comparing conservation agriculture (CA) and conventional management. CA plots had significantly higher water infiltration 49% and 45% greater than conventional for two seasons in Zimbabwe, and 57% and 87% greater infiltration for CA treatment in Zambia. Most CA plots had higher average soil moisture throughout the season. The years of the study were not drought years, so it did not assess the drought-mitigating capacity of CA directly, but results suggest improved water use efficiency, which would reduce risk of crop failure in low-rain years.