000			03123nab a22003617a 4500
999			_c58193 _d58185
001			58193
003			MX-TxCIM
005			20220920151607.0
008			160517s2016 xxu|||p|op||| 00| 0 eng d
024	8		_ahttps://doi.org/10.3934/agrfood.2016.1.85
040			_aMX-TxCIM
041			_aeng
100	1		_aMupangwa, W. _gSustainable Intensification Program _gSustainable Agrifood Systems _8INT3147 _9894
245	1	0	_aRainfall risk and the potential of reduced tillage systems to conserve soil water in semi-arid cropping systems of southern Africa _h[Electronic Resource]
260			_aSpringfield, USA : _bAIMS Press, _c2016.
500			_aOpen Access
500			_aPeer review
520			_aImprovement of household food security in the Limpopo Basin has been elusive due to a combination of factors related to information and market constraints, but also farmers’ risk aversion induced by the high variability of rainfall during the growing season. The purpose of this study was to (1) characterize the rainfall and growing season patterns experienced by smallholder farmers, and (2) measure soil water dynamics in ripper and basin tillage systems being promoted in the semi-arid Limpopo Basin of southern Africa. The results show that the second half of the growing season receives more rainfall than the first half in the Limpopo Basin. However, rainfall is more variable during the January-March than the October-December period. Growing seasons start earlier and end later in the Mozambique part of the basin which is closer to the Indian Ocean. The Limpopo Basin is prone to two and three week dry spells with chances of 14 day spells higher (34–42%) than the 21 day spells (8–12%). The chances of 14 and 21 day dry spells increase substantially during the second half of the growing season. The 1980–1990 was one of the driest decades in the Limpopo Basin. Planting basin system conserved more soil water on sandy loam (18–24%) and clay loam (4–12%) soils than the conventional practice during flowering and grain filling maize growth stages. Ripper had 17–29% more soil water than conventional practice during flowering and grain filling maize growth stages. There is a high risk of dry spells and soil water deficits in smallholder cropping systems of the Limpopo basin. There is therefore scope in promoting rain and soil water management technologies, and good land husbandry in order to reduce risk of crop failure in the smallholder cropping systems.
526			_aMCRP _bFP1
546			_aText in English
650		7	_aCropping systems _gAGROVOC _2 _91068
650		7	_92274 _aWater conservation _2AGROVOC
650		7	_92273 _aSoil conservation _2AGROVOC
650		7	_91080 _aDrought _2AGROVOC
651		7	_94496 _aZimbabwe _gAGROVOC
700	1		_92517 _aWalker, S.
700	1		_94084 _aMasvaya, E.
700	1		_94085 _aMagombeyi, M.
700	1		_94086 _aMunguambe, P.
773	0		_wu57927 _x2471-2086 _dSpringfield, USA : AIMS Press, _tAIMS agriculture and food _gv. 1, no. 1, p. 85-101
856	4		_uhttp://hdl.handle.net/10883/18132 _yOpen Access through DSpace
942			_2ddc _cJA _n0