Abstract
The existing evidences support that some eighty percent of the world’s agricultural land is rainfed, contributing to the tune of sixty percent to food production worldwide. This empirical research was conducted on-station during June to September main growing season over two years (2000 and 2001) to substantiate that, managing dry spell risks through development of compatible technologies can improve rainfed maize productivity in the semi-arid zones of Ethiopia. Firstly, two soil water conserving tillage practices i.e a metal handled-Erf and Mofer attached MB plough and Tie Ridger (TR) both of which are simple tillage tools were used. Secondly, varying plant population level was linked to the inseason dry spell length for 5, 7, 10, 15, 20 and more, as well as to the crop water requirement and plot soil water content at land preparation stage. The result revealed that the shorter dry spells have higher probability of occurrence, compared to the longer dry spells in general. On the other hand, the probability of dry spells is higher during the early parts of the growing season, with a declining trend until the peak of the rainy season and slopping up towards the end of the rainy season. The result on water requirement information under Melkassa climate shows that a total of 315 mm of soil water is required for maize throughout June/July to September growing period. MB plowing realized significantly highest grain yield at 5% alpha level (1849 Kg.ha-1) at the recommended plant population (53,333 plants ha-1), whereas, TR resulting in nearly similar yield for the same population. Although the study area is known for water scarcity and hence lower plant population is preferred, it was possible to achieve high yield at this population level. This could be because, the crop water requirement was met at physiological maturity stage in both seasons and at flowering in one (2000) of the two seasons. The water requirement for vegetation was met in both seasons; however, it was followed by lower WRSI at least in one of the seasons, which could have caused a reduction in yield at this plant population level. Further, 70% of the variability in maize grain yield was explained by the root zone available soil water at planting. For instance, grain yield was 1480 kg ha-1 at 119 mm of available soil water at planting; while the same was 1845 kg ha-1 at 136.5 mm of soil water. Overall, the paper provided empirical evidence that management of dry spell risks is possible, but it demands for the innovative management practices that outsmart the business as usual (BAU) approach i.e. the miraculous drought tolerant or drought escape crop cultivar development strategy.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
Shorter dry spells had a higher probability of occurrence than longer dry spells.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e0“The result revealed that the shorter dry spells have higher probability of occurrence, compared to the longer dry spells in general”
Claim · model-written summary
The probability of dry spells was higher during the early parts of the growing season.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e1“the probability of dry spells is higher during the early parts of the growing season”
Claim · model-written summary
MB plowing gave significantly the highest grain yield, 1849 kg/ha, at the recommended plant population.
- Treatment
- MB plowinge2
- Outcome
- grain yielde2
- Direction
- higheste2
- Value
- 1849 Kg.ha-1e2
- Qualifier
- at the recommended plant population (53,333 plants ha-1)e2
- Comparator
- TRe3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e2“MB plowing realized significantly highest grain yield at 5% alpha level (1849 Kg.ha-1) at the recommended plant population (53,333 plants ha-1)”
e3“whereas, TR resulting in nearly similar yield for the same population”
Claim · model-written summary
TR gave a yield nearly similar to MB plowing at the same plant population.
- Treatment
- TRe3
- Outcome
- yielde3
- Direction
- nearly similare3
- Qualifier
- for the same populatione3
- Comparator
- MB plowinge2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e2“MB plowing realized significantly highest grain yield at 5% alpha level (1849 Kg.ha-1) at the recommended plant population (53,333 plants ha-1)”
e3“whereas, TR resulting in nearly similar yield for the same population”
Claim · model-written summary
A total of 315 mm of soil water is required for maize from June/July to September under Melkassa climate.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e4“The result on water requirement information under Melkassa climate shows that a total of 315 mm of soil water is required for maize throughout June/July to September growing period”
Claim · model-written summary
Lower WRSI in at least one season could have caused the yield reduction at the low plant population.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e5“lower WRSI at least in one of the seasons, which could have caused a reduction in yield at this plant population level”
Claim · model-written summary
Root zone available soil water at planting explained 70% of the variability in maize grain yield.
- Treatment
- root zone available soil water at plantinge6
- Outcome
- variability in maize grain yielde6
- Value
- 70%e6
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e6“70% of the variability in maize grain yield was explained by the root zone available soil water at planting”
Claim · model-written summary
Maize grain yield was higher at 136.5 mm of soil water at planting (1845 kg/ha) than at 119 mm (1480 kg/ha).
- Treatment
- available soil water at plantinge7
- Outcome
- grain yielde7
- Direction
- higherinferrede7
- Value
- 1845 kg ha-1e7
- Qualifier
- 1480 kg ha-1 at 119 mm of available soil water at plantinge7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e7“grain yield was 1480 kg ha-1 at 119 mm of available soil water at planting; while the same was 1845 kg ha-1 at 136.5 mm of soil water”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that dry-spell risk management is possible but needs innovative management practices beyond the business-as-usual approach.
- Outcome
- innovative management practicese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“rainfed maize productivity”
e0“the paper provided empirical evidence that management of dry spell risks is possible, but it demands for the innovative management practices that outsmart the business as usual (BAU) approach”
The same questions in other 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
- no effect
- negative
- no effect
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