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Moisture Conservation by Fallowing in Botswana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

P. T. S. Whiteman
P. T. S. Whiteman
Affiliation:
Division of Agricultural Research, Private Bag 33, Gaborone, Botswana*
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Summary

Low and unreliable rainfall, combined with high summer evaporation rates, frequently lead to poor yields and crop failure in Botswana agriculture. Over three test years it has been shown that the soil can store up to 100 mm. of available moisture at planting time, which represents about half the water requirement of a crop of sorghum, and the balance is likely to be met (P = 0.05) during the current growing season. Sorghum grain yields have been doubled (2007 kg./ha.) after fallow compared with 1028 kg./ha. after non-fallowed pre-treatments. The advantages of a farming system based on a bare summer fallow are discussed, and reference is made to the implications of its wider adoption.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , October 1975 , pp. 305 - 314
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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References

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