Tillage and crop management impacts on soil loss and crop yields in northwestern Ethiopia |
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| Institution: | 1. The United Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama-Minami, Tottori, 680-8553, Japan;2. Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box, 527, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia;3. Arid Land Research Center, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan;4. International Platform for Dryland Research and Education, Tottori University, 1390 Hamasaka, Tottori, 680-0001, Japan;5. College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 1289, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia;6. Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Shimane, Japan;7. Faculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box, 252, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia;8. Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Tottori, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Lack of appropriate agronomic practices is one of the major causes for soil erosion and low yields in teff (Eragrostis tef Zucc.]) production in Ethiopia. A 3-yr study was conducted at the Aba Gerima watershed in northwestern Ethiopia, to investigate the effects of two tillage practices (reduced tillage RT] and conventional tillage CT]), two planting methods (row planting RP] and broadcast planting BP]), and two compaction options (with +T] and without –T] trampling) on soil loss and teff yields in a split-split plot arrangement. Sediment concentration ranged from 0.01 to 5.37 g L?1 (mean, 0.25 g L?1) in our study. Accordingly, the estimated total (August–October) soil loss ranged from 0.2 to 0.5 t ha–1 (mean, 0.3 t ha–1). The sediment concentration and total soil loss were significantly influenced (P < 0.05) by tillage, planting methods, and trampling only in the third monitoring year. RT reduced soil loss by 19% relative to that of CT, whereas RP resulted in a 13% reduction in soil loss over BP. The ?T plots showed a 15% reduction in soil loss as compared to + T plots. Results revealed significant increase in soil total carbon and nitrogen in RT and –T. Less soil loss and greater teff grain yield were obtained in plots with improved agronomic practices (RT and RP) compared to conventional ones (CT and BP). Based on our findings we conclude that the use of RT, RP, and –T practices can effectively minimize soil loss without any crop yield penalty. |
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| Keywords: | Drought-resistance Grain yield Reduced tillage Row planting Soil erosion Teff |
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