Climate variability and Tillage practices: Effect on soil moisture, carbon dynamics and crop productivity in semi arid Zimbabwe
Abstract
142 words
To improve on low yields of rainfed agriculture which are a
result of soil degradation, low fertility and low moisture levels
in semi-arid areas and increased climatic variability due to
climate change, conservation agriculture (CA) is being promoted
in Zimbabwe. Under CA water harvesting techniques such as
planting basins which can achieve considerable improvement
in water use efficiency are being incorporated. Planting basin
technologies with varying size are being promoted for the
vulnerable farmers with poor or no access to animal draft. This
research focuses on the effect of climatic variability and different
tillage practices on soil moisture retention, crop yield and carbon
dynamics. The study will specifically focus on farmers coping
strategies to climatic variability and effects of different basin
sizes on moisture retention and yields. This study will also
evaluate the long term effects of CA on soil carbon dynamics.
Subjects
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