Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda

Conservation agriculture (CA) is becoming popular in sub-Saharan Africa as potential solution to soil degradation. However, most findings are based on large scale, mechanized agricultural production systems which are not easy to apply within the smallholder farmer’s context. This study assessed the...

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Autores principales: Kabirigi, M., Ngetich, Felix K., Mwetu, K.K., Rushemuka, P., Wasige, E.J., Ruganzu, V.M., Nabahungu, N.L.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Academic Journals 2017
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89722
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author Kabirigi, M.
Ngetich, Felix K.
Mwetu, K.K.
Rushemuka, P.
Wasige, E.J.
Ruganzu, V.M.
Nabahungu, N.L.
author_browse Kabirigi, M.
Mwetu, K.K.
Nabahungu, N.L.
Ngetich, Felix K.
Ruganzu, V.M.
Rushemuka, P.
Wasige, E.J.
author_facet Kabirigi, M.
Ngetich, Felix K.
Mwetu, K.K.
Rushemuka, P.
Wasige, E.J.
Ruganzu, V.M.
Nabahungu, N.L.
author_sort Kabirigi, M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Conservation agriculture (CA) is becoming popular in sub-Saharan Africa as potential solution to soil degradation. However, most findings are based on large scale, mechanized agricultural production systems which are not easy to apply within the smallholder farmer’s context. This study assessed the implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture of Eastern Rwanda. The experimental design was Split Plot with 4 replications. The main plots were conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) and sub-plots were: Control, sole residues application (RR); residues application with inorganic fertilizers (RR+IF) and inorganic fertilizers (IF) applied alone. Inorganic fertilizers application increased bean grain and biomass yield by 103%. In no tillage inorganic fertilizers had higher maize grain and biomass yields whereas residues application had 68% higher maize grain and biomass yield in conventional tillage. The significant increase in organic carbon was observed in residues applied with inorganic fertilizers. There was a significant N decrease in all treatments however control and residues had the highest N pool compared to other treatments. Sole residues application and residues applied with inorganic fertilizers treatment increased significantly Available P. The use of inorganic fertilizers in conservation agriculture systems should be promoted as the engine toward successful of CA practices for Bugesera district conditions. These results provide a basis for conducting trade-off analyses to support the development of CA crop management and international development strategies based on available scientific evidence.
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spelling CGSpace897222025-11-11T10:44:51Z Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda Kabirigi, M. Ngetich, Felix K. Mwetu, K.K. Rushemuka, P. Wasige, E.J. Ruganzu, V.M. Nabahungu, N.L. conservation agriculture no tillage fertilizer application soil fertility residues management bugesera district Conservation agriculture (CA) is becoming popular in sub-Saharan Africa as potential solution to soil degradation. However, most findings are based on large scale, mechanized agricultural production systems which are not easy to apply within the smallholder farmer’s context. This study assessed the implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture of Eastern Rwanda. The experimental design was Split Plot with 4 replications. The main plots were conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) and sub-plots were: Control, sole residues application (RR); residues application with inorganic fertilizers (RR+IF) and inorganic fertilizers (IF) applied alone. Inorganic fertilizers application increased bean grain and biomass yield by 103%. In no tillage inorganic fertilizers had higher maize grain and biomass yields whereas residues application had 68% higher maize grain and biomass yield in conventional tillage. The significant increase in organic carbon was observed in residues applied with inorganic fertilizers. There was a significant N decrease in all treatments however control and residues had the highest N pool compared to other treatments. Sole residues application and residues applied with inorganic fertilizers treatment increased significantly Available P. The use of inorganic fertilizers in conservation agriculture systems should be promoted as the engine toward successful of CA practices for Bugesera district conditions. These results provide a basis for conducting trade-off analyses to support the development of CA crop management and international development strategies based on available scientific evidence. 2017-08 2017-12-13T09:33:13Z 2017-12-13T09:33:13Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89722 en Open Access application/pdf Academic Journals Kabirigi, M., Ngetich, F.K., Mwetu, K.K., Rushemuka, P., Wasige, E.J., Ruganzu, V.M. & Nabahungu, N.L. (2017). Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 12(31), 2524-2532.
spellingShingle conservation agriculture
no tillage
fertilizer application
soil fertility
residues management
bugesera district
Kabirigi, M.
Ngetich, Felix K.
Mwetu, K.K.
Rushemuka, P.
Wasige, E.J.
Ruganzu, V.M.
Nabahungu, N.L.
Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda
title Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda
title_full Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda
title_fullStr Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda
title_full_unstemmed Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda
title_short Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: a case study of Eastern Rwanda
title_sort implications of tillage practices management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture a case study of eastern rwanda
topic conservation agriculture
no tillage
fertilizer application
soil fertility
residues management
bugesera district
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/89722
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