Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Effect of heights and submergence ratio of ponded raised bed on crop productivity in water-logged wetland

Author(s):

O. E. Essien *, Ema. O. Ekong

Recieved Date: 2010-07-16, Accepted Date: 2010-11-05

Abstract:

Raised beds (RB) of heights 15, 30 and 45 cm on waterlogged wetland with 10-cm deep base water, were constructed and planted with fluted pumpkin (Telferia occidentalis). The raised-beds afforded depth submergence ratios (DSR) of 1.5, 3 and 4.5 and percentage dry or submergence-free depth ratios (SFDR) of 33%, 67% and 77%, respectively. Favourable seed-bed environment was produced with soil temperature ranging from 27 – 30 ºC and soil moisture content averaging 16.56 ± 1.63, 17.31 ± 2.72 and 16.06 ± 2.18% in the 15-cm, 30-cm and 45-cm RBs, respectively. Except with the 15-cm RB, other depth-ratios DSR>2 and SFDR>67% significantly (P=0.05) favoured crop growth and productivity of up to 6 kgha^-1 in the 4^th week after emergence at a submergence-free depth ratio of 67%. The 30-cm raised bed gave the highest leaf area index (LAI) while a submergence-free depth ratio of 77% for the 45-cm raised-bed gave too high an unsaturated or free-draining space above the ponded base depth which reduced LAI below that of the 30-cm RB. Spatial soil moisture content and temperature distributions were significantly homogenous (P=0.01) in each bed except with the 15-cm RB in which root penetration suffered prolonged saturation that distressed productivity. The 30-cm RB and 45-cm RB under 10–15 cm submergence of wetland provided adequate conservation structure for a 65 percent wetland sustainability or cropping intensity in Ikpa wetland, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Ponded raised-bed, submergence-ratio, land sustainability, crop productivity, waterlogged wetland

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Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2010
Volume: 8
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 550-555

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