IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jagris/v10y2020i10p448-d422015.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of Tillage Systems and Cropping Patterns on Soil Physical Properties in Mozambique

Author

Listed:
  • Oscar Chichongue

    (Mozambique Agricultural Research Institute (IIAM), Maputo 3658, Mozambique
    Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

  • Johan van Tol

    (Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

  • Gert Ceronio

    (Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

  • Chris Du Preez

    (Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa)

Abstract

Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are advocated to reduce soil degradation, resulting in more sustainable food production as compared to conventional tillage (CT). In this study, the short-term effects of two tillage systems in combination with cropping patterns on selected soil physical parameters on four experimental sites in Mozambique were studied. The study sites differ according to their climatic conditions, soil types, and crop adaptation. Tillage systems evaluated were CA and CT, while the cropping pattern had four levels of sole cropping and three levels of intercropping. In general, soil physical properties showed significant changes due to the tillage systems, but the cropping pattern and their interaction with tillage systems did not yield significant impacts on the soil physical properties. CA increased bulk density, penetration resistance, and saturated hydraulic conductivity as compared to CT. A significant difference due to the tillage system was observed across the four sites, and in general, evaporation was higher in CT compared to CA. The presence of crop residues in CA contributed to lower evaporation. Thus, in the short term, CA practices could be a sustainable option to conserve soil water through higher infiltration and less evaporation.

Suggested Citation

  • Oscar Chichongue & Johan van Tol & Gert Ceronio & Chris Du Preez, 2020. "Effects of Tillage Systems and Cropping Patterns on Soil Physical Properties in Mozambique," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:10:y:2020:i:10:p:448-:d:422015
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/10/10/448/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/10/10/448/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christian Thierfelder & Pauline Chivenge & Walter Mupangwa & Todd S. Rosenstock & Christine Lamanna & Joseph X. Eyre, 2017. "How climate-smart is conservation agriculture (CA)? – its potential to deliver on adaptation, mitigation and productivity on smallholder farms in southern Africa," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(3), pages 537-560, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Lihua Liu & Shize Cui & Meng Qin & Liqiang Chen & Dawei Yin & Xiaohong Guo & Hongyu Li & Guiping Zheng, 2022. "Effects of Continuous Ridge Tillage at Two Fertilizer Depths on Microbial Community Structure and Rice Yield," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, June.
    2. Roman Wacławowicz & Magdalena Giemza & Elżbieta Pytlarz & Anna Wenda-Piesik, 2023. "The Impact of Cultivation Systems on Weed Suppression and the Canopy Architecture of Spring Barley," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Scognamillo, Antonio & Sitko, Nicholas J., 2021. "Leveraging social protection to advance climate-smart agriculture: An empirical analysis of the impacts of Malawi’s Social Action Fund (MASAF) on farmers’ adoption decisions and welfare outcomes," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    2. Maurice Osewe & Chris Miyinzi Mwungu & Aijun Liu, 2020. "Does Minimum Tillage Improve Smallholder Farmers’ Welfare? Evidence from Southern Tanzania," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Lalani, Baqir & Aminpour, Payam & Gray, Steven & Williams, Meredith & Büchi, Lucie & Haggar, Jeremy & Grabowski, Philip & Dambiro, José, 2021. "Mapping farmer perceptions, Conservation Agriculture practices and on-farm measurements: The role of systems thinking in the process of adoption," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    4. Jew, Eleanor K.K. & Whitfield, Stephen & Dougill, Andrew J. & Mkwambisi, David D. & Steward, Peter, 2020. "Farming systems and Conservation Agriculture: Technology, structures and agency in Malawi," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Adam M. Komarek, 2018. "Conservation agriculture in western China increases productivity and profits without decreasing resilience," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(5), pages 1251-1262, October.
    6. Md Kamrul Hasan & Sam Desiere & Marijke D’Haese & Lalit Kumar, 2018. "Impact of climate-smart agriculture adoption on the food security of coastal farmers in Bangladesh," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(4), pages 1073-1088, August.
    7. Kathleen Brüssow & Anja Faße & Ulrike Grote, 2017. "Is Sustainable Intensification Pro-Poor? Evidence from Small-Scale Farmers in Rural Tanzania," Resources, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-16, September.
    8. Raymond Mugandani & Liboster Mwadzingeni & Paramu Mafongoya, 2021. "Contribution of Conservation Agriculture to Soil Security," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-11, September.
    9. Komarek, Adam M. & Kwon, Hoyoung & Haile, Beliyou & Thierfelder, Christian & Mutenje, Munyaradzi J. & Azzarri, Carlo, 2019. "From plot to scale: ex-ante assessment of conservation agriculture in Zambia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 504-518.
    10. Mutenje, Munyaradzi Junia & Farnworth, Cathy Rozel & Stirling, Clare & Thierfelder, Christian & Mupangwa, Walter & Nyagumbo, Isaiah, 2019. "A cost-benefit analysis of climate-smart agriculture options in Southern Africa: Balancing gender and technology," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 126-137.
    11. Ngoma, Hambulo & Pelletier, Johanne & Mulenga, Brian P. & Subakanya, Mitelo, 2021. "Climate-smart agriculture, cropland expansion and deforestation in Zambia: Linkages, processes and drivers," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    12. Amadu, Festus O. & McNamara, Paul E. & Miller, Daniel C., 2020. "Understanding the adoption of climate-smart agriculture: A farm-level typology with empirical evidence from southern Malawi," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    13. Abyiot Teklu & Belay Simane & Mintewab Bezabih, 2022. "Effectiveness of Climate-Smart Agriculture Innovations in Smallholder Agriculture System in Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    14. Kirui, Oliver & Tambo, Justice, 2021. "Yield Effects of Conservation Agriculture Under Fall Armyworm Stress: The Case of Zambia," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315882, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    15. Kemen G. Austin & Robert H. Beach & Daniel Lapidus & Marwa E. Salem & Naomi J. Taylor & Mads Knudsen & Noel Ujeneza, 2020. "Impacts of Climate Change on the Potential Productivity of Eleven Staple Crops in Rwanda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-12, May.
    16. Arenas-Calle, Laura N. & Ramirez-Villegas, Julian & Whitfield, Stephen & Challinor, Andrew J., 2021. "Design of a Soil-based Climate-Smartness Index (SCSI) using the trend and variability of yields and soil organic carbon," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    17. Clifton Makate & Marshall Makate & Nelson Mango, 2019. "Wealth-related inequalities in adoption of drought-tolerant maize and conservation agriculture in Zimbabwe," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(4), pages 881-896, August.
    18. Dong-Gill Kim & Elisa Grieco & Antonio Bombelli & Jonathan E. Hickman & Alberto Sanz-Cobena, 2021. "Challenges and opportunities for enhancing food security and greenhouse gas mitigation in smallholder farming in sub-Saharan Africa. A review," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(2), pages 457-476, April.
    19. Asif Sardar & Adiqa K. Kiani & Yasemin Kuslu, 2021. "Does adoption of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices improve farmers’ crop income? Assessing the determinants and its impacts in Punjab province, Pakistan," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 10119-10140, July.
    20. Kaluzi, Limson & Thierfelder, Christian & Hopkins, David W., 2017. "Smallholder Farmer Innovation and Contexts in Maize-Based Conservation Agriculture Systems in Central Malawi," Sustainable Agriculture Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 6(3), August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:10:y:2020:i:10:p:448-:d:422015. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.