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The Response of Water and Nutrient Dynamics and of Crop Yield to Conservation Agriculture in the Ethiopian Highlands

Author

Listed:
  • Sisay A. Belay

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, Ethiopia)

  • Tewodros T. Assefa

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, Ethiopia)

  • P. V. Vara Prasad

    (Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, KS 66506, USA)

  • Petra Schmitter

    (International Water Management Institute, Yangon 11081, Myanmar)

  • Abeyou W. Worqlul

    (Blackland Research Center, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Temple, TX 76502, USA)

  • Tammo S. Steenhuis

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, Ethiopia
    Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA)

  • Manuel R. Reyes

    (Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, Department of Agronomy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, KS 66506, USA)

  • Seifu A. Tilahun

    (Faculty of Civil and Water Resources Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar 26, Ethiopia)

Abstract

Smallholder agriculture constitutes the main source of livelihood for the Ethiopian rural community. However, soil degradation and uneven distribution of rainfall have threatened agriculture at present. This study is aimed at investigating the impacts of conservation agriculture on irrigation water use, nutrient availability in the root zone, and crop yield under supplementary irrigation. In this study, conservation agriculture (CA), which includes minimum soil disturbance, grass mulch cover, and crop rotation, was practiced and compared with conventional tillage (CT). We used two years’ (2018 and 2019) experimental data under paired-t design in the production of a local variety green pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.). The results showed that CA practices significantly (α = 0.05) reduced irrigation water use (13% to 29%) and runoff (29% to 51%) while it increased percolated water in the root zone (27% to 50%) when compared with CT practices under the supplementary irrigation phase. In addition, CA significantly decreased NO 3 -N in the leachate (14% to 44%) and in the runoff (about 100%), while PO 4 -P significantly decreased in the leachate (33% to 50%) and in the runoff (16%) when compared with CT. Similarly, CA decreased the NO 3 -N load in the leachate and in the runoff, while the PO 4 -P load increased in the leachate but decreased in the runoff. The yield return that was achieved under CA treatment was 30% higher in 2018 and 10% higher in 2019 when compared with the CT. This research improves our understanding of water and nutrient dynamics in green pepper grown under CA and CT. Use of CA provides opportunities to optimize water use by decreasing irrigation water requirements and optimize nutrient use by decreasing nutrient losses through the runoff and leaching.

Suggested Citation

  • Sisay A. Belay & Tewodros T. Assefa & P. V. Vara Prasad & Petra Schmitter & Abeyou W. Worqlul & Tammo S. Steenhuis & Manuel R. Reyes & Seifu A. Tilahun, 2020. "The Response of Water and Nutrient Dynamics and of Crop Yield to Conservation Agriculture in the Ethiopian Highlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:15:p:5989-:d:389634
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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