Abstract:
Yield-phenology relation is a critical issue affecting rainfed maize field productivity in semiarid east
African Plateau (EAP). We first introduced Chinese ridge-furrow mulching (RFM) system to EAP, using
three maize cultivars with early-, mid- and late-maturing traits as test materials. A two-year field
experiment was conducted in a semiarid farm of Kenya from 2012 to 2013. Three treatments were
designed: alternative ridge and furrow with transparent plastic mulching (FT), with black plastic
mulching (FB) and without mulching (CK). We found that FT and FB significantly increased soil moisture
and accelerated crop maturity across two growing seasons. Leaf area and shoot biomass were increased
by 30.2% and 67.5% in FT, 35.2% and 73.5% in FB, respectively, compared with CK. Grain yield, water
use efficiency and economic output were increased by 55.6%, 57.5% and 26.7% in FT, and 50.8%, 53.3%
and 19.8% in FB, respectively. Optimal yield and economic benefit were observed in late-maturing
cultivar due to increased topsoil temperature in FT in 2012 (cool), and in early-maturing cultivar owing
to cooling effect in FB in 2013 (warm). Our study suggested RFM system, combined with crop phenology
selection, be a promising strategy to boost maize productivity and profitability in semiarid EAP.
