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Effects of Tillage Systems and Cropping Patterns on Soil Physical Properties in Mozambique

Oscar Chichongue, Johan van Tol, Gert Ceronio and Chris Du Preez
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Oscar Chichongue: Mozambique Agricultural Research Institute (IIAM), Maputo 3658, Mozambique
Johan van Tol: Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Gert Ceronio: Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa
Chris Du Preez: Department of Soil, Crop, and Climate Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa

Agriculture, 2020, vol. 10, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: Conservation agriculture (CA) practices are advocated to reduce soil degradation, resulting in more sustainable food production as compared to conventional tillage (CT). In this study, the short-term effects of two tillage systems in combination with cropping patterns on selected soil physical parameters on four experimental sites in Mozambique were studied. The study sites differ according to their climatic conditions, soil types, and crop adaptation. Tillage systems evaluated were CA and CT, while the cropping pattern had four levels of sole cropping and three levels of intercropping. In general, soil physical properties showed significant changes due to the tillage systems, but the cropping pattern and their interaction with tillage systems did not yield significant impacts on the soil physical properties. CA increased bulk density, penetration resistance, and saturated hydraulic conductivity as compared to CT. A significant difference due to the tillage system was observed across the four sites, and in general, evaporation was higher in CT compared to CA. The presence of crop residues in CA contributed to lower evaporation. Thus, in the short term, CA practices could be a sustainable option to conserve soil water through higher infiltration and less evaporation.

Keywords: Bulk density; cropping pattern; evaporation; hydraulic conductivity; penetration resistance; tillage system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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