Broad Bed And Furrow Research Articles

Soil Drainage and Nutrient Management to Improve Productivity of Waterlogged Vertisols for Small-scale Farmers

Vertisols cover large part of the high rainfall areas of Ethiopia. However, the potential of these soils is not well exploited because of heavy water logging during the main rain season. A study was conducted to investigate the interactive effects of soil drainage and fertilizer application on the productivity of Vertisols. Factorial combinations of four planting beds (Broadbed and furrow (BBF) with 100 cm bed size, broadbed and furrow with 80 cm bed size, ridge and furrow (RF) with 30 cm bed size, and flatbed) and two fertilizer levels (unfertilized and fertilized with 64 kg N ha-1 & 46 kg P2O5 ha-1) in RCBD were experimented for the sustainable use and improved productivity of Vertisols in Northeastern Ethiopia in the 2006/2007 cropping season. Results revealed that ridge and furrow bed (RF) drained more excess water than the broadbed and furrow beds (BBF) and the flatbed (F), but with yield penalties. Soil drainage using broadbed and furrows (BBF) and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization reduced days to heading and maturity by 12 and 15%, respectively. The broadbed and furrow and the nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization package increased grain yield by 90%, grain nitrogen and phosphorus uptakes by 183 and 252%, and stover nitrogen and phosphorus uptakes by 152 and 121%. Thus, planting in broadbed and furrows (BBF), disregard of the bed size, with fertilizer application is recommended for bread wheat production on vertisols in Northeastern Ethiopia.

Land surface modification and crop diversification for enhancing productivity of a Vertisol

Vertisols occur extensively in central India and have high production potentials. Because of the high clay content (40-60% or more), high bulk density (1.5-1.8 Mg m -3 ) and related properties, these soils have high moisture storage capacity. Conversely, these soils become very hard when dry and very sticky when wet. Since last two decades, scientists, farmers and also the policy makers have been striving to manage these soils through harnessing the beneficial attributes as well as overcoming the production constraints. Some of the potential options are efficient surface land configuration and crop diversification. Field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm at Bhopal to evaluate the land surface configuration and crop diversification. Results of our experiment on vertisols showed a considerable reduction in run off of water and also soil loss from broadbed and furrow (BBF) compared to flat-on-grade (FOG) during rainy season and at the same time crop productivity was significantly improved in BBF. It enhanced yield of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), maize (Zea mays L.), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) as sole and as well as intercropping and sole chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) by about 12.7-20.0% over FOG. The yield of crops (soybean, maize and pigeonpea), expressed as soybean equivalent yield, was compared and it showed an improvement in yield from different intercropping systems on BBF. The residual effect of rainy season crops on succeeding chickpea was not significant; however, its yield in two irrigation (one pre-sowing plus one post-sowing) was significantly greater than pre-sowing irrigation only in both land configurations. Water use efficiency (WUE) of chickpea was more under BBF than FOG. The study elucidates the constraints and potentials of vertisol for crop production especially with reference to central India and effective ways to improve crop productivity through land surface modification and crop diversification.

Soil Drainage and Nutrient Management to Improve Productivity of Waterlogged Vertisols for Small-scale Farmers

Vertisols cover large part of the high rainfall areas of Ethiopia. However, the potential of these soils is not well exploited because of heavy water logging during the main rain season. A study was conducted to investigate the interactive effects of soil drainage and fertilizer application on the productivity of Vertisols. Factorial combinations of four planting beds (Broadbed and furrow (BBF) with 100 cm bed size, broadbed and furrow with 80 cm bed size, ridge and furrow (RF) with 30 cm bed size, and flatbed) and two fertilizer levels (unfertilized and fertilized with 64 kg N ha-1 & 46 kg P2O5 ha-1) in RCBD were experimented for the sustainable use and improved productivity of Vertisols in Northeastern Ethiopia in the 2006/2007 cropping season. Results revealed that ridge and furrow bed (RF) drained more excess water than the broadbed and furrow beds (BBF) and the flatbed (F), but with yield penalties. Soil drainage using broadbed and furrows (BBF) and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization reduced days to heading and maturity by 12 and 15%, respectively. The broadbed and furrow and the nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization package increased grain yield by 90%, grain nitrogen and phosphorus uptakes by 183 and 252%, and stover nitrogen and phosphorus uptakes by 152 and 121%. Thus, planting in broadbed and furrows (BBF), disregard of the bed size, with fertilizer application is recommended for bread wheat production on vertisols in Northeastern Ethiopia.

Long-term effects of management systems on crop yield and soil physical properties of semi-arid tropics of Vertisols

Long-term experiments can be used to assess management induced changes in soil properties and sustainability of the management system in terms of the productivity. Such data are scanty, especially in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) region. A long-term experiment established in 1976 at ICRISAT in India on Vertisols with two management treatments; improved management (IM), comprising semi-permanent broadbed and furrow (BBF) landform with minimum tillage and improved cropping practices; and traditional management (TM) system comprising keeping the land fallow during the rainy season and sowing on flat landform during post-rainy season with traditional cropping practices, was sampled after 24 and 34 years for soil physical and hydrological properties. Results showed that both in short-and long-term the management systems had profound effect on crop yields. Also in the long-term IM and TM management systems had significant effect on several soil physical and hydrological properties. Throughout the soil profile IM systems had significantly lower bulk density, significantly higher porosity, substantially lower penetration resistance both at 5 cm (1 and 8 MPa) and 15 cm depths (8 and 15 MPa), significantly higher infiltration and sorptivity and significantly larger mean weight diameter of 4.3 mm compared to 2.8 mm for soils under TM. However, management systems had no significant effect on moisture holding capacities both at 0.033 and 1.5 MPa. Significant differences between the improved and traditional systems were observed in the size and pattern of soil surface cracks. Over the long-term, the improved management systems has very favorable effects on soil physical and hydrological properties and on the soil surface cracking and its patterns, thereby contributing to higher productivity.

Evaluation of surface water drainage systems for cropping in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

In Ethiopia vertisols cover about 10% of the total land area and is the fourth most important soil used for crop production, accounting for nearly 23% of the total arable land used for crop production. More than half of the vertisols are found in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia, with an altitude of more than 1500 m above mean sea level. The unique physical and chemical properties of these soils and the high rainfall during the main cropping season create severe surface waterlogging problems which hinder crop production activities. Severe surface waterlogging affects the growth of plants by impeding nutrient uptake and creating oxygen deficiency around the root zone. To address this crop production problem, three surface water drainage methods, namely broad bed and furrow (BBF), ditch, and flat (traditional) methods were evaluated using the water balance of the plant root zone and wheat as a test crop. The experiment was conducted at the Ginchi Research Station in the central highlands of Ethiopia over two consecutive seasons (2000 and 2001). The results showed that both the BBF and the ditch drainage methods gave about 33% and 22% more grain yield than the flat treatment, respectively. However, there were no significant differences between BBF and ditch for both grain and biomass yield during both experimental seasons. During both seasons the total water balance (Δ W r ) at the root zone especially, in the months of June, July and August on all the treatments was higher than the crop water requirement (ETc) and showed no significant difference between the treatments. Thus, the results of this study indicated that the soil water in the root zone was not significantly altered by surface drainage systems and therefore implies the need of further improvement of the different surface drainage methods regarding improving the waterlogging condition and hence the productivity of the vertisols in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia.

Comparison of Two Approaches for Estimation of Genetic Variation for Two Economic Traits in Faba Bean Genotypes Grown under Waterlogged Verisols

There is little experimental evidence about whether component of variance calculated from separate analysis of variance in waterlogged conditions is effective in estimating the extent of heritable variation and the effectiveness of selection. Seven faba bean variety trials consisting of 17-25 different genotypes each were conducted at four locations in lattice or RCB designs with 2 or 3 replications on drained (using broad bed andfurrow, BBF) and undrained (flatbeds) Vertisols between 1996 and 1999. Records on 1000 seed weight and grain yield were subjected to statistical analyses using SAS computer software. Grain yield was more sensitive towaterlogging stress than 1000 seed weight. Heritability and expected genetic gains calculated from separate analysis were higher than those calculated from pooled analysis of variance for both grain yield and 1000 seed weight. The relative precision improvement of pooled analysis of variance over separate analysis ranged from 57-83% for grain yield and 7-25% for thousand seed weight. Thousand seed weight was more heritable than grain yield. There was weak association between heritability and expected genetic gains calculated from separate and pooled analyses of variance for grain yield and strong positive association for 1000 seed weight, indicating that genetic variation and effectiveness of selection for thousand seed weight could, more accurately, be calculated from separateanalysis of variance than grain yield. Thus, studies on genetic variability and effectiveness of selection for grain yield based on separate analysis of variance could be misleading under both drained and waterlogged Vertisols because of the potential danger of wrong conclusions that could be drawn from the confounding effects of genotype by environmental interaction.Keywords: Broad-Sense Heritability; Expected Genetic Gain; Genotypic Variation; Phenotypic Variation; Pooled Analysis of Variance; Separate Analysis of Variance

Effect of different methods of land preparation on runoff, soil and nutrient losses from a Vertisol in the Ethiopian highlands

Abstract. Vertisols are among the most common, high-potential soils in the central highlands of Ethiopia, where over 88% of human and 77% of the livestock population are located. Productivity from these soils is constrained by severe waterlogging due to their physical properties and intensive rainfall in summer. Traditionally, farmers plant late in the season to avoid the waterlogging, which results in harvest yields that are far below optimal. To bridge this yield gap, the broad-bed and furrow system for surface drainage has been introduced. Despite reported yields of various crops, little is known of the on-site and off-site impacts of this system. Consequently, four land preparation methods viz. (i) broad-bed and furrow (BBF), (ii) green manure (GM), (iii) the traditional system of ridge and furrow (RF) and (iv) reduced tillage (RT) were compared on standard runoff plots for 5 years (1998–2002) at Caffee Doonsaa in the central Highlands of Ethiopia. Runoff, sediment, organic carbon and nutrient (organic nitrogen and available phosphorus) losses were determined during the last two years (2001 and 2002). Over 50% of the seasonal rainfall was lost as runoff, regardless of the treatment, with significantly more of the excess water running off BBF and RT treatments in both years. The BBF system drained 67% and 54% of rainfall as runoff in 2001 and 2002, respectively, compared with 61% and 53% from the RT system during the measurement period. Although not statistically significant, the largest sediment and total nutrient losses tended to be from the BBF. The effect of the treatments on total nutrient loss and enrichment ratio was inconsistent. The nutrient concentration in the eroded sediment was greater than that of the originating surface soil but was strongly correlated. The effect of the land preparation methods was significant and varied with crops. Recommended options for best crop productivity are BBF for lentil and RT for wheat and tef.

Crop architecture effects on elephant foot yam (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius) productivity and economics under rainfed conditions

A field experiment was conducted during 200809 and 200910 under rainfed conditions in Alfisols, to investi- gate the effect of broad bed and furrow, crop geometry and spacing on elephant foot yam [ Amor phophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson]. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with 5 replications. The treatment consisted of 90 cm 90 cm, 75 cm 75 cm and 60 cm 60 cm spacing in square and triangle planting on broad bed and furrow (BBF) along with 90 cm 90 cm square planting on pits followed by mounds (normal). The broad bed and furrow method of planting performed better than pits followed by mound. Triangle planting under all spacings gave higher yield owing to better growth, leaf-area index (LAI) and dry-matter produc- tion. Decreasing the plant spacing significantly increased the corm yield. The highest corm yield (28.4 t/ha) was observed at the closest spacing of 60 cm 60 cm, though per plant yield was lesser. The corm yield at 60 cm 60 cm spacing was statistically on a par with 75 cm 75 cm spacing both under square and triangle planting. Higher net returns of 1,18,800/ha were noticed with 75 cm 75 cm spacing in broad bed and furrow (BBF) triangle planting. But higher benefit: cost ratio (1.96) was noticed in 90 cm 90 cm spacing BBF triangle planting.

Response of mechanization levels and in-situ rainwater-conservation practices, their dynamics on production potential of soybean [Glycine max] under rainfed condition

A field experiment was conducted on medium black soils at All-India Coordinated Research Project for Dryland Agriculture, Parbhani, Maharashtra, during the rainy (kharif) seasons of 2016 to 2018, to evaluate the effect of mechanization practices coupled with different in-situ rainwater-conservation practices on soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] . The treatments comprising complete mechanization, partial mechanization and traditional methods of cultivation (flatbed) were evaluated for rainfed MAUS 162 soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] along with subplot treatments of broad bed and furrow (BBF), ridges and furrow and flatbed. Complete mechanization in soybean resulted in higher seed yield, gross monetary returns, net monetary returns, benefit: cost ratio and rainwater-use efficiency. In-situ moisture-conservation practices such as BBF and ridges and furrow method of sowing recorded the highest seed yield (25.23 and 15.71% increase), net monetary returns (51.95%, 30.7%) and rainwater use efficiency (25% and 15%) as compared to traditional method of cultivation. Complete mechanization along with BBF method of sowing in soybean proved be significantly superior to all treatment combinations with respect to seed yield, net monetary returns and rainwater-use efficiency. The highest energy output-input ratio (10.2) was observed in complete mechanization with BBF method of sowing

Performance of rainy season greengram as influenced by land configuration and phosphorus application

A field experiment was carried out for 2 crop years (July‐October) at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of land configuration and phosphorus levels on the growth and yield of rainy season greengram under limited irrigation facility. The crop sown on 2 meter wide broad bed and furrow (BBF) showed higher growth attributes, nodulation, yield attributes and yield compared to flat bed (FB) sowing. Application of 30 and 60 kg P2O5ha‐1 showed significant increase in growth attributes, nodulation, yield attributes and yield as compared to no phosphorus application. The moisture status in the soil determined the optimum dose of phosphorus needed for greengram. The combination of BBF sowing and application of 60 kg P2O5 ha−1 recorded the highest grain yield among all the combinations of land configuration and phosphorus levels.

Efficiency of drained selection environments for improving grain yield in faba bean under undrained target environments on vertisol

Waterlogging is a major constraint of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) production in the highland vertisols of Ethiopia. Genotypes are currently evaluated under both the drained conditions of Broad Bed and Furrow(BBF) and the undrained flatbeds. The objective of this research was to determine if selection of genotypes under BBF is efficient for identification of genotypes for the flatbed conditions. Yields under the flatbed conditions were lower by 20–50% (38% on average) than yields under the BBF. Genetic variation, heritability and predicted genetic gains for grain yield due to direct selection were also lower under the flatbeds than they are under the BBF. There were good levels of genetic correlation (r = 0.20–0.75 or0.45 on average) between yield performances under BBF and flatbeds, indicating that selection under BBF may identify good genotypes for flatbeds and vice versa. There was also high association (r =0.91) between relative yield reduction under flatbeds and the ratio of the predicted genetic gains from indirect selection under BBF to the predicted genetic gains from direct selection under flat beds. This indicates that indirect selection under BBF may be useful to identify better genotypes for flatbed conditions, but the relative efficiency of indirect selection was lower than direct selection under flatbeds themselves.

Strain-specific response of Trifolium semipilosum to inoculation with Rhizobium and the significance of waterlogging in Vertisols

Glasshouse and field experiments were conducted in 1993 at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa to identify effective combinations of Trifolium semipilosum genotypes and Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii strains and to investigate the effects of waterlogging of Vertisols on the response of clover to inoculation. In the glasshouse, the Rhizobium strain ILCA372str produced nearly ten times as much nodule DM, three times as much shoot DM, five times as much root DM, and twice as much plant N on cv. Safari as it did on accession ILCA7609 under normal watering conditions. This spontaneous streptomycin-resistant mutant strain performed better than its parent strain. Shoot DM and N yields of this combination were, however, only 55 and 71%, respectively, of the corresponding N-fertilizer (150 kg N ha−1) treatment. Waterlogging reduced nodule DM by 33%, shoot DM by 41%, root DM by 25% and N yield by 33%, and responses of both plant genotypes to inoculation and to N fertilizer were reduced. In the field, there were no significant differences in nodulation, plant DM and plant N between seed and soil inoculation methods. Dry matter and N yields of Safari inoculated with strain ILCA372str were at least twice as high as those produced by any other strain or N fertilizer supplied at 100 kg N ha−1. Waterlogging during early establishment in the field probably reduced the availability of N fertilizer to the plants. Further field testing of the Safari-ILCA372str combination is recommended, particularly in combination with broad-bed and furrow (BBF) technology to drain Vertisols.

Crop Response to Improved Drainage of Vertisols in the Ethiopian Highlands

AbstractThe effect of flat seedbed, traditional ridge and furrow and improved drainage of broad bed and furrow (BBF) on grain and straw yield of durum wheat, chickpea and lentil at several Vertisol sites between 1988—1991 was such that on three crops the BBF system gave the highest grain and straw yields at all locations and seasons. This was followed by traditional ridge and furrow system and the least yield was obtained from flat seed beds. The extent of drainage influence on yield was dependent on rainfall quantity, location (clay content) and crop species. The advantages of the BBF technology in improving drainage and increasing crop yield are discussed in their contexts of better cropping systems.

Effect of seedbed methods and time of harvest on the yield and nutritive value of some forage crops grown on Vertisol at Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

The influence of the improved drainage broadbed and furrow (BBF), as opposed to the traditional flat seedbed over the growing season on the dry matter yield and nutritive value of Avena sativa, Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus, Vida dasycarpa, Trifolium steudneri and Sesbania sesban were studied on Vertisol. Up to 7 t/ha dry matter yield was recorded for Avena sativa and Lablab purpureus when planted on Vertisols with improved drainage. Dry matter yield of forage crops also increased with advance in stage of maturity or subsequent harvests. On both improved and traditional flat seedbed methods, the chemical analysis of forage crops showed similar declines in crude protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) levels as the maturity of forage crops progressed.