Abstract:
Low soil fertility and drought condition are main crop production challenges that
threatening food security in semi-arid areas. Use of fertilizer at micro dose rates together
with in-situ rainwater harvesting using infiltration pits (IP) or tied ridges (TR) are lowinput strategies to cope with these challenges. This research was conducted to investigate
effects of integrating fertilizer micro dose rates and in-situ rainwater harvesting using IP
and TR on groundnut yield and its household profitability to Tanzania smallholder
farming groups. Field experiments were conducted from 2015/2016 to 2016/2017
cropping seasons. Infiltration pits and tied ridges increased groundnut yield significantly
by 20.2 to 32.6 % and 34.2 to 46.6% respectively over flat cultivation. Fertilizer micro
dose at 50% of recommended rate significantly increased yield by 50.8 to 64.7 % over
zero application. Integration of TR with fertilizer at RR resulted into highest groundnut
yield ranged from 1,034 to 1,096 kg/ha and highest NP ranged from 1,027 to 1,081
USD/ha. The integrations of TR and fertilizer micro dose at 50% of recommended had
significant higher yield ranged from 748 to 1,086 kg/ha and higher NP ranging from 405
to 662 USD/ha compared to famer practice. The integrations of micro dose rate of 50%
of recommended rate and tied ridges is therefore recommended to small holder’s famers
located in semi dry areas of central Tanzania. This will enable farmers to achieve highly
agronomic and economic performances compared to farmer practices.
