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Influence of basin‐based conservation agriculture on selected soil quality parameters under smallholder farming in Z imbabwe
Author(s) -
Nyamangara J.,
Marondedze A.,
Masvaya E. N.,
Mawodza T.,
Nyawasha R.,
Nyengerai K.,
Tirivavi R.,
Nyamugafata P.,
Wuta M.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
soil use and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.709
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1475-2743
pISSN - 0266-0032
DOI - 10.1111/sum.12149
Subject(s) - loam , environmental science , soil water , bulk density , tillage , soil quality , conservation agriculture , plough , agronomy , soil science , agriculture , ecology , biology
The research was carried out to determine the effect of basin‐based conservation agriculture ( CA ) on selected soil quality parameters. Paired plots (0.01 ha) of CA and conventional tillage based on the animal‐drawn mouldboard plough ( CONV ) were established between 2004 and 2007 on farm fields on soils with either low (12–18% – sandy loams and sandy clay loams) or high clay levels (>18–46% – sandy clays and clays) as part of an ongoing project promoting CA in six districts in the smallholder farming areas of Zimbabwe. We hypothesized that CA would improve soil organic carbon ( SOC ), bulk density, aggregate stability, soil moisture retention and infiltration rate. Soil samples for SOC and aggregate stability were taken from 0 to 15 cm depth and for bulk density and soil moisture retention from 0 to 5, 5 to 10 and 10 to 15 cm depths in 2011 from maize plots. Larger SOC contents, SOC stocks and improved aggregate stability, decreased bulk density, increased pore volume and moisture retention were observed in CA treatments. Results were consistent with the hypothesis, and we conclude that CA improves soil quality under smallholder farming. Benefits were, however, greater in high clay soils, which is relevant to the targeting of practices on smallholder farming areas of sub‐Saharan Africa.