EFFECTS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING PRACTICES ON BIOMASS YIELD AND MORPHOMETRIC TRAITS OF SORGHUM (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) IN SEMI-ARID KITUI COUNTY, KENYA

Q3 Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems Pub Date : 2024-04-23 DOI:10.56369/tsaes.5273

Boniface M. Mwami, R. Muasya, S. Nguluu, J. Kinama, Benjamin Muli, Albert Luvanda, A. Theuri, John Wambua

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Sorghum is an important source of fodder in the semi-arid areas of Kenya. However, its biomass yield has remained low due to the low soil moisture content which is associated with low rainfall. Objective: To evaluate the synergistic effects of combining rainwater harvesting practices on biomass yield and the morphometric traits of sorghum in semi-arid Kitui County. Methodology: The study was conducted in a randomized complete block design under rainfed conditions between March and August 2021 at the Research Farm of South Eastern Kenya University. It had twelve treatments, including three farming systems (conventional flat planting, ridge and furrow, and zai pits) with three soil mulching types (transparent plastic film mulch, black plastic film mulch, and grass mulch). The farming systems without mulching were used as control treatments. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were separated using Fisher’s protected Least Significant Difference test at 0.05 %. Results: The zai pits with black plastic film mulch and flat planting with grass mulch had the highest and lowest moisture content of 68.65% and 52.5% respectively compared to flat planting. The highest biomass yield was observed in ridge-furrow with black plastic film mulch (3283.33kg ha-1) and ridge–furrow with transparent plastic film mulch (3266.03) and was not significantly different. The lowest biomass yield was recorded in conventional flat planting and zai pits and was not significantly different. In all treatments, there was a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in morphometric traits. Implications: The farming system and the type of soil mulching determined the increase of soil moisture content, biomass yield, and morphometric traits. Conclusion: Combining ridge-furrow and black plastic mulch is recommended to improve the biomass yield of sorghum in semi-arid Kitui County, and other areas with similar agroecological conditions.

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肯尼亚半干旱基图伊（KITUI）县雨水收获方法对高粱（Sorghum bicolor L. Moench）生物量和形态特征的影响

背景：高粱是肯尼亚半干旱地区重要的饲料来源。然而，由于降雨量少，土壤含水量低，高粱的生物量产量一直很低。目的评估结合雨水收集措施对基图伊半干旱区高粱生物量产量和形态特征的协同效应。研究方法：研究于 2021 年 3 月至 8 月在肯尼亚东南大学研究农场的雨养条件下进行，采用随机完全区组设计。共设 12 个处理，包括三种耕作制度（传统平地种植、垄沟种植和畦坑种植）和三种土壤覆盖类型（透明塑料薄膜覆盖、黑色塑料薄膜覆盖和草覆盖）。无地膜覆盖的耕作制度作为对照处理。对数据进行方差分析，并使用费雪保护的最小显著差异检验（0.05%）来区分均值。结果与平地种植相比，使用黑色塑料薄膜覆盖的畦坑和使用草覆盖的平地种植的含水量最高和最低，分别为 68.65% 和 52.5%。生物量产量最高的是黑色塑料薄膜地膜覆盖的脊耕法（3283.33 千克/公顷）和透明塑料薄膜地膜覆盖的脊耕法（3266.03 千克/公顷），两者没有显著差异。传统平地种植和畦坑种植的生物量产量最低，差异不明显。在所有处理中，形态特征都有显著增加（p ≤ 0.05）。影响：耕作制度和土壤覆盖类型决定了土壤含水量、生物量产量和形态特征的增加。结论建议在半干旱的基图伊县以及其他农业生态条件类似的地区，将脊犁和黑色塑料地膜覆盖相结合，以提高高粱的生物量产量。

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来源期刊

Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems Agricultural and Biological Sciences-Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)

CiteScore

1.00

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

24 weeks

期刊介绍： The journal is an international peer-reviewed publication devoted to disseminate original information contributing to the understanding and development of agroecosystems in tropical and subtropical areas. The Journal recognizes the multidisciplinary nature of its scope and encourages the submission of original manuscripts from all of the disciplines involved in this area. Original contributions are welcomed in relation to the study of particular components of the agroecosystems (i.e. plant, animal, soil) as well as the resulting interactions and their relationship/impact on society and environment. The journal does not received manuscripts based solely on economic acpects o food technology.