Land preparation methods efficiency on the highland Vertisols of Ethiopia

Abstract

AbstractVertisols are among the major high potential soils in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Their productivity is constrained by severe waterlogging. Under traditional management systems, yield from these soils is far below the potential. To bridge the gap, several surface drainage methods were introduced and have shown a yield advantage over some of the traditional methods. However, alternative technologies for better crop yield and improved land resources management are still needed for sustainable use of the soils and water resources. As part of a concerted effort to improve productivity, field experiments were conducted during the 1996 and 1997 at Gincii, and 1998–2000 growing seasons at Caffee Doonsaa. Three land preparation methods, broad bed and furrows (BBF), ridge and furrows (RF) and flat seedbeds (FL) for the former, and four alternatives, BBF, RF, reduced tillage (RT) and green manuring (GM) for the latter, were evaluated. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with three replications on permanent plots. Surface runoff and crops yields were considered as indicators of the efficiency of the land preparation methods. BBF gave the highest runoff at both locations over the years, but the effects on crop yields were inconsistent at both locations. BBF gave the lowest and the highest grain and straw yields in the first and the second years, respectively, at Gincii. GM and RT for cereals and BBF for a legume have shown better yield advantage at Caffee Doonsaa. To arrive at reliable conclusions, it is recommended that the experiment be continued under the prevailing cropping systems, taking soil quality and other sustainability indicators into account. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.