Abstract
ABSTRACT A study was undertaken to determine the effect of growing sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) crops in furrows of tied ridges (TR) designed to conserve and concentrate rain water in the root zone, with inorganic fertilizer applications to increase soil fertility. Field trials were conducted on farmers' fields on sandy soils in semi-arid south-east lowveld of Zimbabwe in 1990/91, 1991/92 and 1992/93 summer seasons. One metre TR significantly increased yields compared to sowing on flat land in 1990/91. Temporal water logging and leaching of nutrients, especially in 1.5 m TR, reduced yields in 1992/93. The optimum fertilizer level for grain and stover yields was 25 kg N/ha compared to 0, 50, and 75 kg N/ha. Harvest indices for sorghum in tied ridges were significantly higher than those on the flat land in 1990/91 but not in 1992/93. Harvest indices for maize in tied ridges were significantly higher than those on the flat land only at one site in 1992/93. Nitrogen fertilizer generall...
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