Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions
In semi-arid regions, erratic rainfall and water losses through percolation are causing low yields of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) grown on sandy soils. This study evaluated the effects of soil moisture management and different plant densities across four cropping seasons on rainfed maize performance...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Elsevier
2025
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176513 |
| _version_ | 1855520266366484480 |
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| author | Madamombe, Sandra Makaita Nyamadzawo, George Öborn, Ingrid Smucker, Alvin Chirinda, Ngonidzashe Kihara, Job Nkurunziza, Libère |
| author_browse | Chirinda, Ngonidzashe Kihara, Job Madamombe, Sandra Makaita Nkurunziza, Libère Nyamadzawo, George Smucker, Alvin Öborn, Ingrid |
| author_facet | Madamombe, Sandra Makaita Nyamadzawo, George Öborn, Ingrid Smucker, Alvin Chirinda, Ngonidzashe Kihara, Job Nkurunziza, Libère |
| author_sort | Madamombe, Sandra Makaita |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | In semi-arid regions, erratic rainfall and water losses through percolation are causing low yields of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) grown on sandy soils. This study evaluated the effects of soil moisture management and different plant densities across four cropping seasons on rainfed maize performance. The study was conducted on a smallholder farm with sandy soils in a semi-arid district of Mutare, Zimbabwe. In a split-plot experimental design, low-density polyethylene membranes installed below the root growth zone known as sub-surface water retention technology (SWRT) and the control were main treatments and three different plant densities were sub-treatments. Maize performance including plant height, leaf chlorophyll, biomass and grain yields and rainwater use efficiency (RWUE) were monitored. Results showed that, while SWRT significantly increased maize grain yield by 21 % and total biomass yield by 13 % across seasons, this effect was smaller than that caused by the seasonal rainfall variation. In wet years, maize grain yield ranged from 3.0 to 5.8 t ha−1, while in dry years, it ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 t ha−1. RWUE of the maize increased significantly with plant density and was higher in dry (305 mm) compared to wet (780 mm) seasons. This study provides evidence of the need to optimize available water resources to increase maize grain yields under semi-arid conditions through integrated soil moisture management and optimised maize planting densities. It also highlights the need to invest in water harvesting and irrigation infrastructure to improve control over water resources and facilitate higher yields and yield stability. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace176513 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1765132025-12-08T09:54:28Z Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions Madamombe, Sandra Makaita Nyamadzawo, George Öborn, Ingrid Smucker, Alvin Chirinda, Ngonidzashe Kihara, Job Nkurunziza, Libère zea mays semi-arid soils sandy soils soil water retention plant density biomass grain yield water use efficiency rain water small farms In semi-arid regions, erratic rainfall and water losses through percolation are causing low yields of rainfed maize (Zea mays L.) grown on sandy soils. This study evaluated the effects of soil moisture management and different plant densities across four cropping seasons on rainfed maize performance. The study was conducted on a smallholder farm with sandy soils in a semi-arid district of Mutare, Zimbabwe. In a split-plot experimental design, low-density polyethylene membranes installed below the root growth zone known as sub-surface water retention technology (SWRT) and the control were main treatments and three different plant densities were sub-treatments. Maize performance including plant height, leaf chlorophyll, biomass and grain yields and rainwater use efficiency (RWUE) were monitored. Results showed that, while SWRT significantly increased maize grain yield by 21 % and total biomass yield by 13 % across seasons, this effect was smaller than that caused by the seasonal rainfall variation. In wet years, maize grain yield ranged from 3.0 to 5.8 t ha−1, while in dry years, it ranged from 0.7 to 1.2 t ha−1. RWUE of the maize increased significantly with plant density and was higher in dry (305 mm) compared to wet (780 mm) seasons. This study provides evidence of the need to optimize available water resources to increase maize grain yields under semi-arid conditions through integrated soil moisture management and optimised maize planting densities. It also highlights the need to invest in water harvesting and irrigation infrastructure to improve control over water resources and facilitate higher yields and yield stability. 2025-08 2025-09-16T14:15:59Z 2025-09-16T14:15:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176513 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Madamombe, Sandra Makaita, George Nyamadzawo, Ingrid Öborn, Alvin Smucker, Ngonidzashe Chirinda, Job Kihara, and Libere Nkurunziza. "Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions." Field Crops Research 331 (2025): 110007. |
| spellingShingle | zea mays semi-arid soils sandy soils soil water retention plant density biomass grain yield water use efficiency rain water small farms Madamombe, Sandra Makaita Nyamadzawo, George Öborn, Ingrid Smucker, Alvin Chirinda, Ngonidzashe Kihara, Job Nkurunziza, Libère Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions |
| title | Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions |
| title_full | Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions |
| title_short | Seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi-arid regions |
| title_sort | seasonal rainfall patterns affect rainfed maize production more than management of soil moisture and different plant densities on sandy soils of semi arid regions |
| topic | zea mays semi-arid soils sandy soils soil water retention plant density biomass grain yield water use efficiency rain water small farms |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176513 |
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