%0 Journal Article
%T Measuring and simulating maize (Zea mays L.) yield responses to reduced tillage and mulching under semi-arid conditions
%A Walter Mupangwa
%A John Dimes
%A Sue Walker
%A Stephen Twomlow
%J Agricultural Sciences
%P 167-174
%@ 2156-8561
%D 2011
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/as.2011.23023
%X Rainfed smallholder agriculture in semi-arid environments of sub-Saharan Africa faces many challenges. Productivity of the smallholder agricultural systems has been on the decline in recent years. Conservation agriculture practices have a potential of steering the smallholder agricultural systems of sub-Saharan Africa to greater and more sustainable levels. This study was designed to calibrate the APSIM model so that it could be used as a tool for understanding the long term impact of conservation agriculture techniques (mulching, tine ripping and planting basins) on the productivity of smallholder systems under semi-arid conditions. The APSIM model predicted reasonably well the seasonal and mulching effects on maize production on sand and clay soils. Under these semi-arid conditions the use of 10 kg.N.ha<sup>¨C1</sup> is preferable under both conventional and basin tillage systems. Planting basins offer a better chance of getting maize grain yield than the conventional system in southern Zimbabwe at N quantities ranging from 0 kg.ha<sup>¨C1</sup> to 52 kg.ha<sup>¨C1</sup>. This modelling exercise suggested that smallholder farmers are still prone to complete crop failure in some years despite the use of available conservation agriculture systems.
%K Nitrogen-Modelling-Planting 
Basins-Semi Arid-Variable Rainfall-Zimbabwe
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=6809