MAIZE PRODUCTION USING MODIFIED ZAI PITS
Maize
is one of the most popular crops in agro ecological zone LM4 in Kyuso
district. Kyuso district experiences an average annual rain fall ranging
300 to 600 millimeters in two seasons per year. Due to the erratic
nature of the rains, there is a crop failure for 3 in every 5
consecutive seasons. This calls for water harvesting as an intervention
to address the moisture shortage that causes the inherent crop failure.
Modified Zai pits
Zai pits as a water harvesting technology integrates a variety of factors to avail moisture to the growing crop to attain physiological maturity as follows:
• Cultivated (cropped) area: The
soil condition of the cropped area must be well prepared to reduce any
soil related limitations for optimum crop establishment and growth
• Catchment area: This
must be sufficient to generate the extra moisture required in the form
of runoff. A Catchment cropped area ratio of 3:1 has been found
appropriate.
• Catchment characteristics: As
much as possible the catchment should be modified to minimize
infiltration. This may be achieved through increasing the catchment
gradient towards the cropped area and compaction.
• Efficiency: In
order to optimize the crop yield, both the normal rains and the runoff
that collects at the cropped area must be used efficiently by the crop.
All moisture losses must be minimized. The right crop variety with
vigour must be planted early enough to gain from all the moisture
experienced at the cropped area. It is advantageous to plant with
Phosphorus containing fertilizers for early crop root establishment. Top
dressing with Nitrogen and use of farm yard manure for provision of
extra nutrients and moisture retention is necessary. Since weeds will
compete for moisture and nutrients, weed control will be of necessity.
Use of mulch will reduce evaporation losses. In addition since a health
crop will use the soil resources efficiently, it will be necessary to
protect the crop against pests and diseases. Read More>>
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