Effects of conservation tillage on water supply and rainfed maize production in semiarid zones of west-central Mexico

This study analyzes the potential of conservation tillage (CT) for improving maize productivity under a range of soil and rainfall conditions in a semiarid zone of West-Central Mexico, evaluating the consequences of tillage practices on the crop's ability to take up and store water, on evapotra...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Scopel, E., Tardieu, F., Edmeades, G.O., Sebillotte, M.
Tipo de recurso: libro
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2001
País:México
Institución:Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo
Repositorio:Repositorio Institucional de Publicaciones Multimedia del CIMMYT
OAI Identifier:oai:repository.cimmyt.org:10883/544
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10883/544
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
MAIZE
RAIN
STATISTICAL METHODS
YIELD COMPONENTS
ZEA MAYS
Descripción
Sumario:This study analyzes the potential of conservation tillage (CT) for improving maize productivity under a range of soil and rainfall conditions in a semiarid zone of West-Central Mexico, evaluating the consequences of tillage practices on the crop's ability to take up and store water, on evapotranspiration, on crop physiology, and on grain yield, under cropping systems typical of small-scale farmers. Even with low use of crop residue mulching (0.2 kg/m2), CT has considerable potential for adoption in these areas, once technical issues such as supply of appropriate machinery, weed control, and the competing use of the maize residue for forage have been resolved. Even under wetter conditions, CT resulted in acceptable yields which, when considered with its cost savings and long-term benefits to the soil, make it attractive.