ASABE Technical Library - Abstract

Abstract. . Agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa has traditionally involved high labour intensity, low inputs and almost no mechanisation. However, crop production has been developing and as the international community looks to Sub-Saharan Africa to contribute to global food security, the focus on increasing mechanisation and agricultural output has intensified. Conventional, highly mechanised agricultural systems are often characterised by heavy field traffic intensity and regular deep tillage methods. Research has demonstrated that highly mechanised agriculture can result in soil structural degradation and negatively impact upon soil hydraulic characteristics, crop growth and yield.

This study aims to assess the interaction between traffic and tillage management strategies specifically for Sub-Saharan African cropping. The fully-randomised, factorial plot design compares the relationship between three field traffic methods 1) random traffic farming (>80% field surface area trafficked) 2) low ground pressure and 3) controlled traffic farming with three tillage approaches 1) conventional tillage (entire soil profile tilled) 2) conservation tillage (reduced depth and intensity) and 3) no tillage. The soil physical properties were investigated using bulk density, electromagnetic conductivity, infiltration rate, cone penetrometer resistance and texture. The soil chemical characteristics were defined for organic matter and nutrient analysis. Starting at ‘season 0’ the same analyses will be repeated in order to observe changes in soil chemical and physical states in relation to the traffic and tillage treatments imposed. The study will progress to consider the energy and economic requirements of each management combination, ultimately producing best practice guidelines for the region and a basic computer model.