Implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: A case study of Eastern Rwanda

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dc.contributor.authorKabirigi, M.
dc.contributor.authorNgetich, F. K.
dc.contributor.authorRushemuka, P.
dc.contributor.authorMwetu, Kennedy K.
dc.contributor.authorWasige, E. J.
dc.contributor.authorRuganzu, Vicky M.
dc.contributor.authorNabahungu, N. L.
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-06T07:28:46Z
dc.date.available2018-02-06T07:28:46Z
dc.date.issued2017-08
dc.descriptionDOI: 10.5897/AJAR2017.12289en_US
dc.description.abstractConservation agriculture (CA) is becoming popular in sub-Saharan Africa as potential solution to soil degradation. However, most findings are based on large scale, mechanized agricultural production systems which are not easy to apply within the smallholder farmer’s context. This study assessed the implications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture of Eastern Rwanda. The experimental design was Split Plot with 4 replications. The main plots were conventional tillage (CT) and no tillage (NT) and sub-plots were: Control, sole residues application (RR); residues application with inorganic fertilizers (RR+IF) and inorganic fertilizers (IF) applied alone. Inorganic fertilizers application increased bean grain and biomass yield by 103%. In no tillage inorganic fertilizers had higher maize grain and biomass yields whereas residues application had 68% higher maize grain and biomass yield in conventional tillage. The significant increase in organic carbon was observed in residues applied with inorganic fertilizers. There was a significant N decrease in all treatments however control and residues had the highest N pool compared to other treatments. Sole residues application and residues applied with inorganic fertilizers treatment increased significantly Available P. The use of inorganic fertilizers in conservation agriculture systems should be promoted as the engine toward successful of CA practices for Bugesera district conditions. These results provide a basis for conducting trade-off analyses to support the development of CA crop management and international development strategies based on available scientific evidence. Key words: Conservation agriculture, no tillage, residues management, Bugesera District.en_US
dc.identifier.citationAfrican Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 12(31), pg. 2524-2532, 3 August, 2017. DOI: 10.5897/AJAR2017.12289, http://www.academicjournals.org/AJARen_US
dc.identifier.issn1991637X
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/18182
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherAcademic Journalsen_US
dc.subjectConservation agricultureen_US
dc.subjectNo tillageen_US
dc.subjectResidues managementen_US
dc.subjectBugesera Districten_US
dc.titleImplications of tillage practices, management of soil surface and fertilizer application on sustainable dryland agriculture: A case study of Eastern Rwandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
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