EVALUATING THE EFFECT OF IN SITU RAINWATER HARVESTING TECHNIQUES ON MAIZE PRODUCTION IN MOISTURE STRESS AREAS OF HUMBO WOREDA,WOLAITA ZONE, SNNPRS, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Rainfall fluctuations, dry spells and drought are the main constraints for rain fed agriculture. In recent years the yield and productivity of maize have been declining drastically. This is mainly attributed due to the lack of appropriate soil and rainfall management practices. This situation is envisaged can be improved under the prevailing conditions by adopting simple water harvesting techniques with the intention of raising and sustaining maize productivity. Accordingly a study was conducted to investigate the effect of some In situ water harvesting techniques on performance of maize crop with respect to soil moisture content, yield and yield components and to assess farmers' perception of water conservation techniques. To achieve the objectives of the study data and information collected through house hold survey and field experiment. The experiment was conducted in Wolaita Zone Humbo Woreda at Abela Sippa kebele, which has an irregular rain fall distribution and a prolonged dry season which leads low soil moisture availability during critical crop growth stages. The study was conducted over a period of one growing season (2010/11) using maize as indicator crop at the farmers training center of the Abela Sippa kebele. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design, with three replications and four treatments. The four treatments used in the study were; Control, Targa , Tie ridge and Zai pits . Findings from this study revealed that maize grain yield and yield components, such as, grain yield, dry matter biomass, and cob length were highly significant (p<0.05) by Targa treatments, but plant height was not significant different. Soil-moisture content over the crop growing season at dry spell periods was significantly higher in Targa and Tie ridges than the control. Targa treatments increased maize yield production to (7.15 ton/ha), Tie ridge increased significantly maize production to (6.19ton/ha), Zai pits yielded (4.5ton/ha) and Control treatment yielded (4.9 ton/ha). Targa and Tie ridge treatments recorded higher net returns (29712, and 25164 ha-1) than Control (20370ha-1) and Zai (14350 ha-1) treatments. The results revealed that the rainwater harvesting technology by the community members to be a good initiative in improving agricultural practices in periods of water scarcity. But, the utilization of the technology is surrounded by various constraints. The major constraints include: labour, cost, lack of knowledge and crops planted on bunds. The findings suggest that Targa structure improved water availability during the growing season, thereby protecting crops from dry periods and it needs minimum cost, less labour power ,and easily constructed by local farmers(not require complicated knowledge)