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022			_a0378-3774
022			_a1873-2283 (Online)
024	8		_ahttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2025.110093
040			_aMX-TxCIM
041			_aeng
100	0		_aConnie Madembo _98523
245	1	0	_aSoil fertility matters most : _bRainfed maize productivity under integrated water and nutrient management on granitic sands in sub-humid Zimbabwe
260			_aAmsterdam (Netherlands) : _bElsevier B.V., _c2026.
500			_aPeer review
500			_aOpen Access
520			_aAgriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces the dual challenge of increasing food production while minimizing environmental degradation. Declining rainfed cereal yields are largely attributed to soil degradation, poor fertility management, and drought-related water deficits. While soil fertility and water conservation have traditionally been studied separately, integrated approaches may offer more sustainable solutions. This study evaluated the effects of water and fertility management practices on maize grain yield, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and volumetric soil moisture content at Domboshawa Training Centre, Zimbabwe, across multiple seasons. A split-plot design tested four tillage systems and four fertility regimes, replicated four times. Seasonal water availability was assessed using the Water Requirement Satisfaction Index (WRSI), where values above 50 % indicate sufficient moisture for maize growth. WRSI values ranged from 38 % to 69 %, with the highest rainfall and crop performance in the 2011/12 season. NDVI values peaked at 0.6 in the 2015/16 season, also higher under treatments combining water management with manure + basal fertiliser, compared to other fertility options. Tied ridging significantly increased topsoil moisture by 36.5 % in 2013/14 season, though these moisture gains did not translate into higher yields. Grain yield was significantly influenced by fertility regime and seasonal rainfall, but not by water conservation practices. Peak yields reached 4.6 t ha−1 in 2013/14, with manure + basal fertiliser averaging 4.3 t ha−1. Findings suggest that in sub-humid environments with 600–800 mm annual rainfall, integrating organic and inorganic fertility inputs, should be prioritized over water management interventions to sustainably improve maize productivity.
546			_aText in English
591			_aConnie Madembo : Not in IRS staff list but CIMMYT Affiliation
597			_dAustralian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
650		7	_aCattle _2AGROVOC _94376
650		7	_aOrganic fertilizers _2AGROVOC _91740
650		7	_aCrop yield _2AGROVOC _91066
650		7	_aInorganic fertilizers _2AGROVOC _93854
650		7	_aSoil fertility _2AGROVOC _91952
650		7	_aWater management _2AGROVOC _98043
650		7	_aMaize _2AGROVOC _91173
651		7	_aZimbabwe _2AGROVOC _94496
700	1		_aNyagumbo, I. _gSustainable Agrifood Systems _8INT3097 _9891
773	0		_tAgricultural Water Management _gv. 323, art. 110093 _dAmsterdam (Netherlands) : Elsevier B.V., 2026. _x0378-3774 _w444468
856	4		_yOpen Access through DSpace _uhttps://hdl.handle.net/10883/36650
942			_cJA _n0 _2ddc
999			_c69740 _d69732