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Application of Deep tillage and Berken Maresha for hardpan sites to improve
infiltration and crop productivity

Conference Paper · May 2017

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Habtamu Muche Petra Schmitter

University of Gondar International Water Management Institute
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Washington State University Bahir Dar University
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 Application of Deep tillage and Berken Maresha for hardpan
sites to improve infiltration and crop productivity
Habtamu Muche1, Misba Abdela1, Petra Schmitter2, Prossie Nakawuka2, Seifu Admasu Tilahun1,
Tammo Steenhuis1, 3, Simon Langan2
1
Faculty of Civil and Water Resource Engineering, Bahir Dar Institute of Technology, Bahir Dar University,
Ethiopia; 2International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Addis Abeba, Ethiopia; 3Biological and Environmental
Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, USA
Abstract

Long term use of Maresha plow, a conventional plow pulled by oxen, has resulted in the formation
of a restrictive layer thereby limiting water movement and aeration as well as root zone penetration
in the soil profile. Several studies have shown that improved tillage practices can positively affect
infiltration and aeration resulting in increased rainwater use efficiency and agricultural production.
However, rather limited information is available about the use of the Berken plough as a potential
alternative for tillage practices. We studied the impact of improved tillage practices on infiltration,
erosion, runoff and crop productivity during the rainy period of 2016 in Robit-Bata watershed
located in upper Blue Nile, Ethiopia. The experiments were carried out in Maize fields where four
tillage treatments were compared: (i) no-till (NT), no ploughing; (ii) conventional (CT), plots tilled
three times using oxen driven Maresha, (iii) deep (DT), manual digging up to 60 cm using a mattock
and (iv) Berken tillage (BT), plots tilled three times using an oxen driven Berken plough. Soil
physical parameters (e.g. penetration resistance, bulk density) where measured before tillage
treatment and after the cropping season. Additionally, crop performance (plant height, yield, residual
biomass and root depth) and measurements on infiltration, sediment yield and runoff were collected.
Tillage depth was significantly higher in DT (60 cm) followed by BT (27.58 cm) and CT (18.13
cm). At the end of the season, the measured penetration resistance was significantly (p<0.01) lower
at 20 cm depth in the DT and BT plots compared to the NT and the CT treatments. Infiltration rates
increased from 115.2 mm hr-1 (NT), 120 mm hr-1 (CT) to 242.4 mm hr-1 (DT), 261.6 mm hr-1 (BT)
(p<0.01) . The total runoff depth significantly decreased in the DT (29.46 mm) and BT treatments
(33.53 mm) as compared to the CT (71.45 mm) and NT (98.77 mm) (p < 0.05). Similarly higher
sediment yields were recorded for the CT (5.5 t ha-1) and NT (6.6 t ha-1) compared to the DT (2.6 t
ha-1) and BT (2.6 t ha-1) plots. Deeper tillage in DT and BT treatments as well as the presence of
invisible barriers along the contour in Berken system could be the reason for the observed increase
in filtration and the reduction of runoff and soil loss. On the other hand, the root length under DT
was (> 50cm) followed by BT (>40cm) and NT and CT (both < 30 cm). Grain yield of maize was
significantly lower in the NT (2.6 t ha-1) compared to yields measured in the CT (3.8 t ha-1), DT (3.8
t ha-1) and BT (4.0 t ha-1) treatments (p <0.05). Results show that improved tillage practices such as
deep tillage or Berken plough could increase permeability and therefore root penetration and
agricultural productivity whilst decreasing erosion and runoff in the Ethiopian Highlands. The
adoption of these techniques in the Ethiopian highlands could improve the sustainability of rainfed
agriculture and reduce the environmental impacts associated with traditional tillage practices.

Key words: Tillage system, Hardpan, Penetration resistance, Infiltration, Grain yield

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