Abstract

Multiple agricultural water management (AWM) technologies are being promoted worldwide in rainfed agro-ecological production systems, such as the Limpopo River Basin, to close the yield gap, enhance food security and reduce poverty, but evidences on yield gains and environmental impacts are varied. This paper conducts a review of the performance of AWM technologies against conventional farmer practices to produce adequate evidence on cereal yield and field runoff changes. With the interrogation of literature from 1980 to 2013 using seven AWM groupings, enough evidence was found that AWM technologies can deliver substantial benefits of increased crop yield and water productivity with reduced environmental impacts. Using random effects model, the standardized mean difference (SMD) of yield between AWM and control was 0.27, while SMD of water productivity was 0.46, indicating the effectiveness of the technologies (SMD>0). Subgroup analyses showed greatest yield responses on silty-clay-loam, clay-loam and sandy soils compared to clay and loam-sandy soils, and higher yield increase under low rainfall regime (200-500 mm) than under high rainfall regime (500-800 mm). Large yield change variations for different AWM technologies present a huge opportunity for meeting the existing yield gaps and enhancing coping capacity in dry years and under climate change.

Keywords

Agricultural water management; climate smart agriculture; Limpopo; rainfed; smallholder farmers; sustainable intensification; systematic review; yield gap

Published in

International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability
2018, Volume: 16, number: 4-5, pages: 418-441
Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

SLU Authors

• Barron, Jennie

  • Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Sustainable Development Goals

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture


UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2018.1523828

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/96861