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Water Use Efficiency of Maize ( Zea mays L.) Crop under Selected Soil and Water Conservation Practices along the Slope Gradient in Ruzizi Watershed, Eastern D.R. Congo

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  • Espoir Mukengere Bagula

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu P.O. Box 3323, Democratic Republic of the Congo
    College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

  • Jackson-Gilbert Mwanjalolo Majaliwa

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda
    Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

  • Twaha Ali Basamba

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

  • Jean-Gomez Mubalama Mondo

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu P.O. Box 3323, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

  • Bernard Vanlauwe

    (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Nairobi 30772-00100, Kenya)

  • Geofrey Gabiri

    (Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Kyambogo University, Kyambogo P.O. Box 1, Uganda)

  • John-Baptist Tumuhairwe

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

  • Gustave Nachigera Mushagalusa

    (Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Université Evangélique en Afrique, Bukavu P.O. Box 3323, Democratic Republic of the Congo)

  • Patrick Musinguzi

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

  • Sarah Akello

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

  • Anthony Egeru

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda
    Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

  • Moses Makooma Tenywa

    (College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala P.O. Box 16811, Uganda)

Abstract

Maize ( Zea mays L.) productivity is constrained by water shortages in the predominantly rainfed agriculture of the tropical semi-arid Ruzizi Plain, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The region is characterized by a high seasonal and inter-annual rainfall variability and a frequent occurrence of consecutive dry days within growing seasons. Consequently, planning water utilization in rainfed agriculture has become complex, as appropriate soil water conservation (SWC) practices are lacking among most smallholder farmers. Identifying practices that increase water use efficiency (WUE) along the slope gradient is crucial for supporting maize production in the region. In this study, we assessed, for three growing seasons, the effectiveness of two SWC practices (tied ridges and Zai pits) in improving the WUE of two maize varieties along three slope gradients (0–2, 2–8, and 8–15%) in the tropical semi-arid Ruzizi Plain. In this area, rainfall amounts (142–289 mm) were consistently below the evapotranspiration demands (356–533 mm) across the three growing seasons. Tied ridges recorded the highest grain yield (2.16 t ha −1 ) and WUE (15.23 kg mm −1 ), especially at low slopes, when compared to Zai pits and conventional tillage. For all SWC practices, WUE decreased with the slope gradient ( p < 0.01). Furthermore, a decrease in stored soil water (SWS) at silking and maturity stages (milk, dough, and dent stages) negatively affected the WUE. The variety had no significant effect on grain yield and WUE. Root biomass (RBM), shoot biomass (SBM), and leaf area index (LAI) at the flowering stage were the most associated with the WUE (R 2 = 58.5%). In conclusion, tied ridges showed potential for improving maize WUE and yield in the water-deficient conditions that characterize the Ruzizi Plain, and could be promoted to improve the maize productivity among smallholder farmers.

Suggested Citation

  • Espoir Mukengere Bagula & Jackson-Gilbert Mwanjalolo Majaliwa & Twaha Ali Basamba & Jean-Gomez Mubalama Mondo & Bernard Vanlauwe & Geofrey Gabiri & John-Baptist Tumuhairwe & Gustave Nachigera Mushagal, 2022. "Water Use Efficiency of Maize ( Zea mays L.) Crop under Selected Soil and Water Conservation Practices along the Slope Gradient in Ruzizi Watershed, Eastern D.R. Congo," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:11:y:2022:i:10:p:1833-:d:946355
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