scholarly journals The Nature of Rainfall at a Typical Semi-Arid Tropical Ecotope in Southern Africa and Options for Sustainable Crop Production

10.5772/28434 ◽  
2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mzezewa ◽  
E.T. Gwat
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Sustainable Crop Production ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Impact of nano-chelated micronutrients and biological fertilizers on growth performance and grain yield of maize under deficit irrigation condition

Biologija ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Janmohammadi ◽  
Azra Navid ◽  
Asghar Ebadi Segherloo ◽  
Naser Sabaghnia
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Arid Regions ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Field Capacity ◽  
Plant Performance ◽  
Vegetative Period ◽  
Sustainable Crop Production ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Semi Arid

Sustainable crop production is required for the semi-arid areas, and it will be achieved by the wise use of several production inputs which must be tailored to the unique conditions of each district. Effective nutrient management and irrigation are just two parts of the  crop production puzzle. It seems that nano-fertilizers may have high potential for achieving sustainable crop production. A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of adding different fertilizers on maize (S.C 704 Hybrid) growth under various irrigation regimes in Moghan, northwest of Iran. The experiment included three irrigation levels (up to ~100, ~50, and ~25% field capacity) which were applied from the beginning of the reproductive period. During the vegetative period, all plants were fully irrigated. Fertilizer treatments included control (no-fertilizer application), N  biofertilizer, P  biofertilizer, nano-chelated  B, nano-chelated  Zn, complete nanofertilizer, and bulk NPK fertilizer. Investigation of morphophysiological traits such as leaf area, ear length, ear diameter, relative water content, and chlorophyll content revealed that application of complete micronutrients, bulk NPK, and nano-chelated Zn significantly improved these traits over the control. A similar status was recorded for grain yield and yield components. Results indicated that although irrigation up to ~25% of field capacity (FC) reduced the grain yield compared to the control, there was not observed any significant difference between normal irrigation and ~50% FC. The best plant performance was recorded for plants grown by complete nanofertilizer under optimum or ~50% FC. Deficient irrigation up to ~50% FC could be assigned as an appropriate water management strategy in semi-arid regions to minimize water losses through evaporation and achieve higher water use efficiency. In conclusion, a combination of precision deficient irrigation and application of nanofertilizers play a critical role for enhancing the efficient use of water and improving the productivity of maize production systems in Mediterranean semi-arid regions.

scholarly journals Dead level contour technical design parameters required for sustainable crop production in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Gumbo ◽  
Menas Wuta ◽  
Isaiah Nyagumbo
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Maize Yield ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Sustainable Crop Production ◽  
Spacing Interval ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Semi Arid

Abstract Smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly exposed to risks such as erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and frequent droughts that threaten sustainable crop production. This study assessed the effectiveness of dead level contours with innovations (DLC INN), dead level contours with infiltration pits (DLC INFIL), dead level contours with open channels (DLC OPEN) and standard graded contours (SGCs) in harvesting and storing water in the channel, improving crop conditions during the critical stages of maize growth on different soil textural groups in the Zvishavane District of Zimbabwe. The DLC INFIL, DLC OPEN and DLC INN outperformed the SGC under medium- and heavy-textured soils, with yields ranging between 1.7 and 2.36 t/ha compared to 0.9 t/ha for the SGC. For light textured soils, the DLC INN had the highest maize yield, averaging 0.8 t/ha. On heavy textured soils using DLC INN, DLC INFIL and DLC OPEN, smallholder farmers may use a spacing interval of 24–27 m. On medium textured soils, DLC INN and DLC INFIL can be used at a spacing interval of 18–21 m and 12 to 15 m with DLC OPEN. On light textured soils, farmers are advised to invest in DLC INN only, using a spacing interval of 12–15 m.

Dynamic Cropping Systems for Sustainable Crop Production in the Northern Great Plains

2007 ◽  
Vol 99 (4) ◽  
pp. 904-911 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Tanaka ◽  
J. M. Krupinsky ◽  
S. D. Merrill ◽  
M. A. Liebig ◽  
J. D. Hanson
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Cropping Systems ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Sustainable Crop Production
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