Increasing rainwater productivity with conservation tillage

TR Number

Date

2003

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Harare, Zimbabwe: ACT (African Conservation Tillage Network)

Abstract

This brief discusses the importance of increasing rainwater productivity for small scale dryland farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ways to improve rainwater productivity include reducing surface run-off and evaporation, increasing infiltration and uptake by plants, and decreasing competition from weeds. However, smallholder farmers face significant social and economic barriers to adoption of conservation tillage, despite its high rate of success in preventing crop failure. To achieve optimal yields, it is necessary to incorporate soil fertility management with conservation tillage.

Description

Keywords

Dryland farming, Semiarid zones, Soil degradation, Arid zones, Small-scale farming, Rainfed agriculture, Conservation tillage, Adoption of innovations, Sub-Saharan Africa, Rainwater productivity, Farm/Enterprise Scale Field Scale

Citation

African Conservation Tillage Network Information Series No. 5