Integrating soil amendments with conservation tillage for improved soil moisture and maize yield in the semi-deciduous forest zone of Ghana

Abstract

Water shortage in the maize root zone during critical crop development stages is a major constraint to sustainable crop production especially under rainfed agriculture. A study was conducted to assess soil moisture storage and maize response to different soil amendments within two conservation tillage systems at the Agricultural Research Station, Anwomaso in Ghana. The amendments (poultry manure, poultry manure + NPK fertilizer and NPK fertilizer) were applied to their respective treatment plots two weeks after planting (WAP). At five WAP, plots amended with poultry manure + NPK fertilizer, and NPK fertilizers were top dressed with N in the form of urea. There was no significant difference in the soil moisture storage under no-till and plough-plant tillage systems. Soil moisture storage, however, increased with depth at each dry spell period under both tillage treatments. In all cases, moisture storage was greater in the 15–30 cm than the 0–15 cm depth indicating a positive effect on in-situ moisture conservation. The soil amendments significantly influenced the grain, stover and total biomass yields.