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Evaluation of Mulching and Tied Ridges on Soil Moisture and Yield of Maize at Daro Lebu District, Western Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Received: 13 December 2022     Accepted: 8 March 2023     Published: 10 June 2023
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Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil moisture conservation structures on soil moisture, yield and yield components of Maize in Daro Lebu district of western Hararghe zone where highly affected by moisture stress. The soil moisture conservation structures used as treatments were tied ridges, tied ridges with vetiver 5cm thickness mulch, Tied ridges with vetiver 10cm thickness mulch, Vetiver mulching 10cm thickness only, Vetiver mulching 5cm thickness only and Farmers practice used as control. The treatments were laid out in RCBD with three replications on two locations; on-station and Milkaye FTC. The data on soil moisture content, plant height, head weight, head number per plot, Number of cobs, stand count at harvest and grain yield were collected. The moisture conservation techniques improved soil moisture stored within the root zone as compared to the farmers practice resulting in higher yield and yield components of maize. Findings from this study revealed that tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge thickness with 5cm saved limited soil moisture and improved maize grain yield in the drought prone areas. Even though, tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge with 5cm thickness retained surface runoff, reduce erosion and improve water holding of the soil, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among them on maize grain yield and growth parameters, but when compared to farmers practice are significant (p<0.05) at both location. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of the soil moisture conservation practices (tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge with 5cm) are advisable and could be appropriate for maize production as well as improving soil moisture of root zone of maize in study area and similar moisture stress area.

Published in International Journal of Agricultural Economics (Volume 8, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16
Page(s) 116-121
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

In-situ Moisture Conservation, Ridges, Soil Moisture, Yield

References
[1] Bankole, F., Menkir, A., Olaoye, G., Crossa, J., Hearne, S., Unachukwu, N., & Gedil, M. (2017). Genetic gains in yield and yield related traits under drought stress and favorable environments in a Maize population improved using marker assisted recurrent selection. Frontiers in Plant Science, 8 (808), 1–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2017.00808.
[2] Nazareth, V. (2016). Evaluating conservation agriculture and its adoption potential in developing countries (Master Dissertation). University of Florida (https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/…/soilsifasufledu/sws…/Nazareth_Vijay_Immediate).
[3] Olaniyan, A. B. (2015). Maize: Panacea for hunger in Nigeria. African Journal of Plant Science, 9 (3), 155–174. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/Ajps2014.1203
[4] FAO. (2015). FAO STAT statistical data base for Agriculture.
[5] Macauley., H. (2015). Feeding Africa, Cereal Crops: Rice, Maize, Millet, Sorghum, Wheat (pp1-36). (Retrieved from) (https://www.afdb.org/DakAgri2015/Cereal_ Crops).
[6] Ndlovu, E. (2013). Impact of tree species on maize productivity by small holder farmers in eastern Kenya (Master Dissertation). Kenya: Jomo Kenyatta University.
[7] CSA (2018). (Central Statistical Authority) Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Statistical Abstracts Agency. Addis Ababa.
[8] Rajkhowa, D. J., Das, Anup, Ngachan, S. V., Sikka, A. K. and Lyngdoh, M. 2015. Integrated Soil and Water Resource Management for Livelihood and Environmental Security. (Eds.) pp 1-19. ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam – 793 103, Meghalaya, India.
[9] Deborah M Pearsall, Karol Chandler-Ezell, Alex Chandler-Ezell, (2003). Identifying maize in neotropical sediments and soilsusing cob phytoliths. Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 30, Issue 5, Pages 611-627, ISSN 0305-4403.
[10] Uwizeyimana et al., 2018. Effect of water conservation measures on soil moisture and maize yield under drought prone agro-ecological zones in Rwanda.
[11] Ayala et al., 2019; Evaluation of In-situ water harvesting Structures on Soil Moisture, Yield and Yield Components of Sorghum in Moisture Deficit Areas of Daro Lebu and Boke districts. Oct. Jour. Env. Res. Vol. 7 (2): 064-073.
[12] Mudatenguha, F., J. Anena, C. K. Kiptum and A. B. Mashingaidze, 2014. In situ rain water harvesting techniques increases maize growth and grain yield in a semi-arid agro-ecology of Nyagatare, Rwanda. Int. J. Agric. Biol., 16: 996‒1000.
[13] Gebreyesus, B. Wortmann, C. S., Martha, M., Heluf, G. and Amare, B. (2006). Micro-basin tillage for grain sorghum production in semiarid areas of northern Ethiopia. Agronomy Journal, vol. 98: 124-128.
[14] Stroosnijder, L. and Araya, A. (2010). Effects of Tied Ridges and Mulch on Barley (Hordeum vulgare) Rainwater Use Efficiency and Production in Northern Ethiopia. Agric. Water Manag., 97: 841-847.
[15] Dagnaw, A., Bagegnehu, B,. Abiy, G. (2018). On-farm Verification of the Soil Moisture and Yield Response of Tied Ridge on Maize Production in Dry Areas of SNNPR, Ethiopia. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, Vol. 8, No. 5, 2018.
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    Gamachu Ayala, Ayana Bulti, Bayisa Muleta. (2023). Evaluation of Mulching and Tied Ridges on Soil Moisture and Yield of Maize at Daro Lebu District, Western Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. International Journal of Agricultural Economics, 8(3), 116-121. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16

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    ACS Style

    Gamachu Ayala; Ayana Bulti; Bayisa Muleta. Evaluation of Mulching and Tied Ridges on Soil Moisture and Yield of Maize at Daro Lebu District, Western Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Int. J. Agric. Econ. 2023, 8(3), 116-121. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16

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    AMA Style

    Gamachu Ayala, Ayana Bulti, Bayisa Muleta. Evaluation of Mulching and Tied Ridges on Soil Moisture and Yield of Maize at Daro Lebu District, Western Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Int J Agric Econ. 2023;8(3):116-121. doi: 10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16,
      author = {Gamachu Ayala and Ayana Bulti and Bayisa Muleta},
      title = {Evaluation of Mulching and Tied Ridges on Soil Moisture and Yield of Maize at Daro Lebu District, Western Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Agricultural Economics},
      volume = {8},
      number = {3},
      pages = {116-121},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijae.20230803.16},
      abstract = {The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil moisture conservation structures on soil moisture, yield and yield components of Maize in Daro Lebu district of western Hararghe zone where highly affected by moisture stress. The soil moisture conservation structures used as treatments were tied ridges, tied ridges with vetiver 5cm thickness mulch, Tied ridges with vetiver 10cm thickness mulch, Vetiver mulching 10cm thickness only, Vetiver mulching 5cm thickness only and Farmers practice used as control. The treatments were laid out in RCBD with three replications on two locations; on-station and Milkaye FTC. The data on soil moisture content, plant height, head weight, head number per plot, Number of cobs, stand count at harvest and grain yield were collected. The moisture conservation techniques improved soil moisture stored within the root zone as compared to the farmers practice resulting in higher yield and yield components of maize. Findings from this study revealed that tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge thickness with 5cm saved limited soil moisture and improved maize grain yield in the drought prone areas. Even though, tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge with 5cm thickness retained surface runoff, reduce erosion and improve water holding of the soil, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among them on maize grain yield and growth parameters, but when compared to farmers practice are significant (p<0.05) at both location. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of the soil moisture conservation practices (tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge with 5cm) are advisable and could be appropriate for maize production as well as improving soil moisture of root zone of maize in study area and similar moisture stress area.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Evaluation of Mulching and Tied Ridges on Soil Moisture and Yield of Maize at Daro Lebu District, Western Hararghe Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia
    AU  - Gamachu Ayala
    AU  - Ayana Bulti
    AU  - Bayisa Muleta
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    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16
    T2  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JF  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    JO  - International Journal of Agricultural Economics
    SP  - 116
    EP  - 121
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3843
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijae.20230803.16
    AB  - The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of soil moisture conservation structures on soil moisture, yield and yield components of Maize in Daro Lebu district of western Hararghe zone where highly affected by moisture stress. The soil moisture conservation structures used as treatments were tied ridges, tied ridges with vetiver 5cm thickness mulch, Tied ridges with vetiver 10cm thickness mulch, Vetiver mulching 10cm thickness only, Vetiver mulching 5cm thickness only and Farmers practice used as control. The treatments were laid out in RCBD with three replications on two locations; on-station and Milkaye FTC. The data on soil moisture content, plant height, head weight, head number per plot, Number of cobs, stand count at harvest and grain yield were collected. The moisture conservation techniques improved soil moisture stored within the root zone as compared to the farmers practice resulting in higher yield and yield components of maize. Findings from this study revealed that tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge thickness with 5cm saved limited soil moisture and improved maize grain yield in the drought prone areas. Even though, tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge with 5cm thickness retained surface runoff, reduce erosion and improve water holding of the soil, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) among them on maize grain yield and growth parameters, but when compared to farmers practice are significant (p<0.05) at both location. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of the soil moisture conservation practices (tied ridge only, tied ridge with 10 cm and tied ridge with 5cm) are advisable and could be appropriate for maize production as well as improving soil moisture of root zone of maize in study area and similar moisture stress area.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Mechara Agricultural Research Center, Mechara, Ethiopia

  • Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Mechara Agricultural Research Center, Mechara, Ethiopia

  • Department of Soil and Water Engineering, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Mechara Agricultural Research Center, Mechara, Ethiopia

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