• Contact Us
    • Send Feedback
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • Journal and Journal Articles
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Browse

    Whole Repository
    CollectionsIssue DateRegionCountryHubAffiliationAuthorsTitlesSubject
    This Sub-collection
    Issue DateRegionCountryHubAffiliationAuthorsTitlesSubject

    My Account

    Login

    Welcome to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Research Repository

    What would you like to view today?

    Water use efficiency of maize (Zea mays L.) crop under selected soil and water conservation practices along the slope gradient in Ruzizi watershed, eastern D.R. Congo

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Journal Article (1.198Mb)
    Date
    2022
    Author
    Bagula, E.
    Majaliwa, J.M.
    Basamba, T.A.
    Mondo, J.
    Vanlauwe, B.
    Gabiri, G.
    Tumuhairwe, J.B.
    Mushagalusa, G.
    Musinguzi, P.
    Akello, S.
    Egeru, A.
    Tenywa, M.
    Type
    Journal Article
    Review Status
    Peer Review
    Target Audience
    Scientists
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract/Description
    Maize (Zea mays L.) productivity is constrained by water shortages in the predominantly rainfed agriculture of the tropical semi-arid Ruzizi Plain, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The region is characterized by a high seasonal and inter-annual rainfall variability and a frequent occurrence of consecutive dry days within growing seasons. Consequently, planning water utilization in rainfed agriculture has become complex, as appropriate soil water conservation (SWC) practices are lacking among most smallholder farmers. Identifying practices that increase water use efficiency (WUE) along the slope gradient is crucial for supporting maize production in the region. In this study, we assessed, for three growing seasons, the effectiveness of two SWC practices (tied ridges and Zai pits) in improving the WUE of two maize varieties along three slope gradients (0–2, 2–8, and 8–15%) in the tropical semi-arid Ruzizi Plain. In this area, rainfall amounts (142–289 mm) were consistently below the evapotranspiration demands (356–533 mm) across the three growing seasons. Tied ridges recorded the highest grain yield (2.16 t ha−1) and WUE (15.23 kg mm−1), especially at low slopes, when compared to Zai pits and conventional tillage. For all SWC practices, WUE decreased with the slope gradient (p < 0.01). Furthermore, a decrease in stored soil water (SWS) at silking and maturity stages (milk, dough, and dent stages) negatively affected the WUE. The variety had no significant effect on grain yield and WUE. Root biomass (RBM), shoot biomass (SBM), and leaf area index (LAI) at the flowering stage were the most associated with the WUE (R2 = 58.5%). In conclusion, tied ridges showed potential for improving maize WUE and yield in the water-deficient conditions that characterize the Ruzizi Plain, and could be promoted to improve the maize productivity among smallholder farmers.
    https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land11101833
    Multi standard citation
    Permanent link to this item
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12478/7964
    IITA Authors ORCID
    bernard vanlauwehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6016-6027
    Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
    https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land11101833
    Research Themes
    Natural Resource Management
    IITA Subjects
    Agronomy; Biodiversity; Food Security; Maize; Natural Resource Management; Plant Breeding; Plant Production; Smallholder Farmers
    Agrovoc Terms
    Water Use Efficiency; Maize; Productivity; Smallholders; Farmers
    Regions
    Africa; Central Africa
    Countries
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Hubs
    Central Africa Hub
    Journals
    Land
    Collections
    • Journal and Journal Articles4842
    copyright © 2019  IITASpace. All rights reserved.
    IITA | Open Access Repository