Study on tillage systems and their impacts on land degradation for eastern agro-ecological zone in Tanzania
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Date
2011
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Soil tillage had been identified as a major cause of land degradation and soil erosion
in Tanzania resulting in soil infertility and low crop yields. A study was conducted
at Mkambalani village, in Mkambalani ward, Mikese division in Morogoro Rural
District, Morogoro Region, Tanzania. The study aimed to assess tillage systems and
their impacts on land degradation for eastern agro-ecological zone. Five (5) tillage
systems were selected for the study. The selected systems were No Tillage (NT),
Strip Tillage (ST), Basin Tillage (BT), Tied Ridges (TR) and Conventional Tillage
(CT). A plot of size 20 m long with width of 1.8 m was established for each tillage
system selected and replicated in three times in the slope of 6° farm. The plots
planted with maize crop variety TMV1. At the down slope end of each plot the
modified Gerlanch troughs were installed to trap water flow and sediment. The
study arranged in CRBD design to help in data analysis. Variables measured
including, daily sediment for the rainy days, water runoff, daily rainfall, plant
growth and yield and soil physical and chemical properties. The results shows that
NT treatments produced high amount of runoff on average in most of rainfall events
due presence of few cover in the first year of farming while TR treatment were the
least. Significant differences were observed between the NT treatments and CT, TR
and BT. It means that in first year of practising NT due to bare soil there was no soil
protection from rainfall and water flow hence more water runoff. CT was found to
be the biggest collector of sediment than other tillage treatments. Significant
changes were observed among CT, NT and TR in collection of sediment. CT
treatment produced sediment loss of 23.2ton/ha/season, while the TR produced the
least amount of 14.4ton/ha/season. This reflects the extent of the productive soils
lost in each year due to tillage. There were no significant differences in crop growth
and yield were observed and also in soil physical and chemical properties in the first
year of the experiment. Under natural rainfall conditions rainfall amount, intensity
and distribution differs greatly and all affect soil properties and crop development,
hence the one year trial is not enough to draw appropriate conclusion.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Soil tillage, Soil Tillage Systems, Physical soil, Conventional tillage system