Olga A. Waya, Herbert Talwana, Samuel Kyamanywa

The effect of tillage, cropping system, variety, and nitrogen fertilizer levels on maize production

Introduction

The effect of tillage, cropping system, variety, and nitrogen fertilizer levels on maize production. Explore the effects of tillage, cropping systems, maize varieties, and nitrogen fertilizer on maize production in Uganda. Discover optimal climate-smart practices for sustainable yields.

Abstract

Climate variability and declining soil fertility are constraining agricultural productivity in Uganda. Climate smart agricultural practices are needed to improve the situation. The study tested four practices: cropping system, variety, tillage methods, and use of inorganic fertilizer in different combinations in factorial designs on-farm and on station. Data was taken on plant height, leaf area index (LAI), number of green leaves/ plants, number of cobs/plots, yield/plot, and stovers’ dry weight. Results indicated that the only significant interaction of the factors was of variety and tillage system on plant height. Otherwise, the factors impacted the response parameters as sole entities. Longe 10H was the variety with taller plants and higher yields especially under reduced tillage. Maize monocrop had the most green leaves throughout the season but lower values of leaf area index than the intercrops; maize in the intercrop also had more cobs and yield per plot. Application of N brought about significant responses for all growth and yield parameters. The application of N fertilizer at the rate 60 kg ha-1 (100% recommended) and above significantly improved all growth and yield parameters. Solely, Longe 10H maize variety produced more yield than Kawanda. Therefore, a strategy including maize variety Longe 10 H variety intercropped with beans under reduced tillage, and given 60 kg ha-1 N fertilizer a season can be used as a CSA practice to sustainably increase maize productivity. Key words: Climate smart agriculture, intercropping, nitrogen fertilizer, reduced tillage, Uganda.

Review

This study addresses crucial agricultural challenges in Uganda, namely climate variability and declining soil fertility, by evaluating the efficacy of various climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices on maize production. The research meticulously investigates the impacts of tillage methods, cropping systems, maize varieties, and nitrogen fertilizer levels through a comprehensive multi-factorial experimental design conducted both on-farm and on-station. The chosen approach, encompassing a range of vital agricultural parameters from plant height to yield and stover dry weight, demonstrates a robust commitment to identifying practical and sustainable solutions for enhancing maize productivity in a region highly susceptible to environmental pressures. The findings reveal several key insights. Notably, the study found that most factors influenced growth and yield parameters as sole entities, with the only significant interaction observed between variety and tillage system on plant height. Longe 10H emerged as a superior maize variety, exhibiting taller plants and higher yields, particularly when grown under reduced tillage conditions. Intercropping proved beneficial for maize, as maize in the intercrop system produced more cobs and higher yields per plot compared to monocrop maize, despite monocrops having more green leaves. Furthermore, nitrogen fertilizer application demonstrated a significant positive impact across all measured parameters, with an application rate of 60 kg ha-1 (the recommended dose) and above yielding optimal results. These detailed findings provide a clear evidence-base for specific CSA interventions. Overall, this research offers highly relevant and actionable recommendations for improving maize production in Uganda. Its strength lies in its multi-factorial design, on-farm validation, and the provision of a clear, integrated CSA strategy: utilizing the Longe 10H maize variety, intercropped with beans, under reduced tillage, and supplemented with 60 kg ha-1 N fertilizer. While the abstract clearly outlines the main results, future full manuscripts could elaborate on the specific type of reduced tillage employed and the duration of the study to further contextualize the findings. Nevertheless, this study makes a significant contribution to the body of knowledge on climate-smart agriculture, offering a practical and empirically supported pathway for smallholder farmers to sustainably boost maize yields and enhance food security in similar agro-ecological zones.

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