Abstract
Micro-basin technologies such as tied-ridge tillage have been proposed as a means to lessen effects of high rainfall variability on crop yields. Relationships between three seasonal climate variables and maize/sorghum yields and two tillage systems were examined for a semi-arid environment in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. The average yield (pooled data) was significantly higher with tied-ridge tillage compared to traditional tillage (3099 vs. 2669 kg/ha). The number of dry spells was the most important predictor for crop yield in either tillage system while total seasonal rainfall was the weakest predictor. The linear yield response to the climate variables was the same in either tillage system: yields increased by 1.85 kg/ha per mm rainfall, and decreased by 81 kg/ha for each dry spell and by 216 kg/ha for each additional dry spell event ≥ 7 days. Thus, there was no differential performance of tillage systems depending on seasonal conditions. Overall, tied-ridge tillage could be a means to improve productivity in the study environment if management-related system constraints (e.g. nutrient supply, residue management) are adequately addressed.
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Claims 8
Claim · model-written summary
Tied-ridge tillage raised pooled crop yield relative to traditional tillage.
- Treatment
- tied-ridge tillagee0
- Outcome
- average yielde0
- Direction
- highere0
- Value
- 3099 vs. 2669 kg/hae0
- Comparator
- traditional tillagee0
- Setting
- Central Rift Valley of Ethiopiae2
Sorghum
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The average yield (pooled data) was significantly higher with tied-ridge tillage compared to traditional tillage (3099 vs. 2669 kg/ha).”
e1“maize/sorghum yields”
e2“Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia”
Claim · model-written summary
Dry-spell count was the strongest yield predictor.
- Outcome
- crop yielde0
- Qualifier
- number of dry spells was the most important predictore0
- Setting
- either tillage systeme0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The number of dry spells was the most important predictor for crop yield in either tillage system”
e1“maize/sorghum yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Total seasonal rainfall was the weakest yield predictor.
Not reportedSettingDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“total seasonal rainfall was the weakest predictor”
e1“maize/sorghum yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield increased by 1.85 kg/ha per millimeter of rainfall.
Not reportedSetting
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“yields increased by 1.85 kg/ha per mm rainfall”
e1“maize/sorghum yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield decreased by 81 kg/ha for each dry spell.
Not reportedSetting
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“decreased by 81 kg/ha for each dry spell”
e1“maize/sorghum yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Yield decreased by 216 kg/ha for each additional dry spell of at least seven days.
- Outcome
- yieldse2
- Direction
- decreasede1
- Value
- 216 kg/hae0
- Qualifier
- each additional dry spell event ≥ 7 dayse0
Not reportedSetting
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“by 216 kg/ha for each additional dry spell event ≥ 7 days”
e1“decreased by 81 kg/ha for each dry spell”
e2“maize/sorghum yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Climate yield responses were the same in both tillage systems.
- Outcome
- linear yield response to the climate variablese0
- Direction
- samee0
- Comparator
- either tillage systeme0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The linear yield response to the climate variables was the same in either tillage system”
e1“maize/sorghum yields”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied ridges could improve productivity if management constraints are addressed.
- Outcome
- improve productivitye0
- Qualifier
- if management-related system constraints (e.g. nutrient supply, residue management) are adequately addressede0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“tied-ridge tillage could be a means to improve productivity in the study environment if management-related system constraints (e.g. nutrient supply, residue management) are adequately addressed.”
e1“maize/sorghum yields”
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tillage · yield · SorghumResults differ
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- negative
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See all 123 papers →tillage · yield · Zea mays (maize)Positive and negative results
811 papers in the same direction as this paper · 230 in the opposite direction · 57 reporting no difference from an alternative
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See all 1,099 papers →Claims are grouped by organism, treatment and what was measured or targeted. A paper counts as positive when any of its claims in the group is positive.