Enhancing Maize (Zea mays L.) Yields through Tied-Ridge Moisture Conservation in Semi-Arid Areas of Tigray, Ethiopia

The experiment took place during the 2019 cropping season in two peasant associations (PAs) located in the Adwa and Tahitay-maichew districts.

Objectives: To demonstrate the effectiveness of the Tied-ridges moisture conservation technique and to raise awareness among farmers about the benefits of adopting this practice.

Methods: Two moisture deficit districts were selected purposefully. From each district, farmer research extension groups (FREG) containing 20 farmer members were formed. Each FREG members were prepared two plots of size 20m*20m, one plot for the tied ridge while the other plot for the farmers practice demonstration. Training were organized for a total of 80 farmers, 8 experts, and 4 Development Agents (DAs) taken from both districts. Half of the farmer participants were from FREG, while the other half were non FREG members. Data on yield and farmers perception on maize yield and Tied ridge moisture conservation was recorded and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: The average yields achieved using the tied ridge method were 31.43 and 32.62 qha-1 in the Tahitay-maichew and Adwa districts, respectively. In comparison, the average yields from traditional farming practices (without tied ridges) were 23.72 and 25.73 qha-1 in the two districts. The implementation of tied ridges for in-situ moisture conservation led to a significant increase in yield in both areas. The economic analysis revealed that the net benefits per hectare from using tied ridges were $603.92 in Tahitay-maichew and $599.28 in Adwa.

Conclusion: The study suggests that scaling up the adoption of tied ridges for moisture conservation in similar agro-ecological zones could lead to even greater economic gains. It is recommended that the Agricultural and Natural Resources Development Office prioritizes the promotion and expansion of this technology in moisture-deficient areas within the districts and other comparable agro-ecological settings.