Abstract
Sorghum production in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe is constrained by low and erratic rainfall, low fertility and soil moisture stress. Sorghum grain yields ranges from 0.2 to 0.4 t ha −1 in sandy-to-sandy loam soils respectively. The objective of the study was to assess cattle manure and rainwater harvesting techniques in improving sorghum grain yield in a semi-arid region of Zimbabwe. The experiment used a randomised complete block design with rainwater harvesting technique as a main treatment factor at three levels. Sub-plot factor was cattle manure at five levels (0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 15 t ha −1 ) and two sorghum varieties (Macia and SV1) as sub-sub plot factor. Sorghum grain yields were improved significantly (p < 0.05) for both varieties using tied contours. Increasing application rates of cattle manure, showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in sorghum grain yield over the control (0 t ha −1 ). Tied contour had higher grain yield (1.15 t ha −1 ) with the use of Macia variety. Stover yield was highly influenced by rainwater harvesting method of tied contour (p < 0.05) compared with infiltration pit and standard contour. Increase in application levels of cattle manure show significant (p < 0.05) increase in stover yields. Tied contour had the highest (3.11 kg ha −1 mm −1 ) rainwater use efficiency which show significant differences (p < 0.05) from infiltration pits and standard contour. Interaction of tied contour and different rates of cattle manure showed significant increments in rainwater use efficiency with increases in manure application rates. Tied contours, 15 t ha −1 cattle manure and Macia variety are potential strategy to achieve climate smart agriculture and improve food security in semi-arid areas. Sorghum production in marginalised areas can be productive with adoption of tested techniques.
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Claims 7
Claim · model-written summary
Tied contours significantly improved grain yield in both varieties.
SorghumNot reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Sorghum grain yields were improved significantly (p < 0.05) for both varieties using tied contours.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing manure rates significantly increased grain yield over zero manure.
- Treatment
- Increasing application rates of cattle manuree0
- Outcome
- sorghum grain yielde0
- Direction
- increasee0
- Comparator
- control (0 t ha −1 )e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Increasing application rates of cattle manure, showed significant increase (p < 0.05) in sorghum grain yield over the control (0 t ha −1 ).”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied contours with Macia yielded 1.15 t ha −1 grain.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tied contour had higher grain yield (1.15 t ha −1 ) with the use of Macia variety.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied contours increased stover yield relative to infiltration pit and standard contour.
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Stover yield was highly influenced by rainwater harvesting method of tied contour (p < 0.05) compared with infiltration pit and standard contour.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Increasing manure levels significantly increased stover yield.
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Increase in application levels of cattle manure show significant (p < 0.05) increase in stover yields.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied contours had the highest rainwater use efficiency at 3.11 kg ha −1 mm −1.
- Treatment
- Tied contoure0
- Outcome
- rainwater use efficiencye0
- Direction
- higheste0
- Value
- 3.11 kg ha −1 mm −1e0
- Comparator
- infiltration pits and standard contoure0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tied contour had the highest (3.11 kg ha −1 mm −1 ) rainwater use efficiency which show significant differences (p < 0.05) from infiltration pits and standard contour.”
t0“sorghum”
Claim · model-written summary
Tied contours with higher manure rates significantly increased rainwater use efficiency.
- Treatment
- tied contour and different rates of cattle manuree0
- Outcome
- rainwater use efficiencye0
- Direction
- incrementse0
Not reportedComparator
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Interaction of tied contour and different rates of cattle manure showed significant increments in rainwater use efficiency with increases in manure application rates.”
t0“sorghum”
The same questions in other papers
fertilization · yield · SorghumPositive and negative results
417 papers in the same direction as this paper · 21 in the opposite direction · 7 reporting no difference from an alternative
- positive
- positive
- positive
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