IMPROVING MAIZE PRODUCTION OF IN‐FIELD RAINWATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUE AT GLEN IN SOUTH AFRICA BY THE ADDITION OF MULCHING PRACTICES

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn response to the severe food insecurity of small‐scale farmers east of Bloemfontein (South Africa), a maize field experiment was laid out on a clayey soil located in a semi‐arid ecotope at Glen. The main aims of the experiment were to evaluate yield and rainwater productivity (RWP) improvements to the in‐field rainwater harvesting (IRWH) production technique by using different mulching practices in the basins and runoff strips, and to compare these treatments with conventional tillage. The 4‐yr experiment consisted of a randomised block design with five treatments and three replicates. The treatments were conventional tillage (CON), and four IRWH treatments. The mulch types used were organic material (O) and stones (S), while bare (B) was included as a control. These mulches were applied on the runoff (r) strips or basin (b) strips in the following combinations: ObBr, ObOr, ObSr and SbSr. The soil water balance components were measured or estimated. Biomass and grain yield were determined. Results showed that maize yields for ObBr were for all seasons significantly better than CON. Both the grain yields and the RWP results from the IRWH treatments were for all seasons in the order: ObSr > ObOr > SbSr > ObBr. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.