Measuring and simulating maize (Zea mays L.) yield responses to reduced tillage and mulching under semi-arid conditions

• 作者: John Dimes Stephen Twomlow Sue Walker Walter Mupangwa
• 来源期刊: 农业科学(英文)
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: Nitrogen-Modelling-Planting Basins-Semi Arid-Variable Rainfall-Zimbabwe
• 年，卷（期）: 2011,（3）
• 页码范围: 167-174
• 页数: 8页
• 分类号: R73

摘要

Rainfed smallholder agriculture in semi-arid environments of sub-Saharan Africa faces many challenges. Productivity of the smallholder agricultural systems has been on the decline in recent years. Conservation agriculture practices have a potential of steering the smallholder agricultural systems of sub-Saharan Africa to greater and more sustainable levels. This study was designed to calibrate the APSIM model so that it could be used as a tool for understanding the long term impact of conservation agriculture techniques (mulching, tine ripping and planting basins) on the productivity of smallholder systems under semi-arid conditions. The APSIM model predicted reasonably well the seasonal and mulching effects on maize production on sand and clay soils. Under these semi-arid conditions the use of 10 kg.N.ha–1 is preferable under both conventional and basin tillage systems. Planting basins offer a better chance of getting maize grain yield than the conventional system in southern Zimbabwe at N quantities ranging from 0 kg.ha–1 to 52 kg.ha–1. This modelling exercise suggested that smallholder farmers are still prone to complete crop failure in some years despite the use of available conservation agriculture systems.