Effects of Level Fanya Juu and Fanya Chin Structures on Grain Yield of Maize in Moisture Stress Areas of Daro Labu District, West Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons in moisture stress area of Daro Labu district in Sororo peasant association, Western Hararghe Zone. It was conducted to evaluate the effect of level Fanya Juu and Fanya Chin conservation structures on grain yield of maize and to increase farmer’s level of awareness and skills on utilizing the technologies for improving production. The treatments were level Fanya Juu, level Fanya Chin and farmer’s practice used as a control with test  crop maize (melkasa-4 variety) arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design on three farms as replications. The data on yield (Qt ha^-1), stand count at harvest,  number of cobs per plot and maturity date were collected. At the first year, 2011 cropping season, the statistical analysis reveals that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) among the treatments on maize grain yield (Qt ha^-1), but no significant variation in stand count at harvest, number of cobs and maturity date . On the second year, 2012 cropping season there was no significant difference among treatments on maize grain yield, stand count at harvest, number of cobs and also maturity date.  Therefore, when farmers practice without conservation structure is compared to both structures, the level Fanya Juu and Fanya Chin were better by yield (i.e. yield advantage varied from 7.5-87% over farmers’ practice). Thus this study confirmed that, both soil and water conservation structures decrease soil erosion and conserve soil moisture during two years of cropping season.  Therefore this physical conservation structures could be recommended for further scale up in moisture stress areas of Daro Labu district and similar agro ecologies.

Keywords: Fanya chin, Fanya juu, Farmers practice, Maize, Moisture stress, Number of cobs, Yield,