Skip to main content

Improving and Sustaining Productivity in Dryland Regions of Developing Countries

  • Chapter
Advances in Soil Science

Part of the book series: Advances in Soil Science ((SOIL,volume 8))

Abstract

Interest in dryland and rain-fed farming systems has increased significantly in recent years in many regions of the world because of rapidly increasing human populations coupled with low productivity gains, escalating water development costs for new irrigation projects, and high operation and maintenance costs associated with irrigated agriculture.

Contribution from USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Bushland, Texas, and Pullman, Washington; USDA, Economic Research Service; and U.S. Agency for International Development. This chapter was prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties. However, the opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not imply official policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Copyright is not claimed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allen, R.R., and C.R. Fenster. 1986. Stubble-mulch equipment for soil and water conservation in the Great Plains. J. Soil Water Conserv. 41:11–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, D.W. 1987. Pedogenesis in the grassland and adjacent forests of the Great Plains. In: B.A. Stewart (ed.), Advances in Soil Science, Vol. 7. Springer-Verlag, New York, pp. 53–93.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Areola, O., A.O. Aweto, and A.S. Gbadegesin. 1982. Organic matter and soil fertility restoration in forest and savanna fallows in southwestern Nigeria. Geo-Journal 6:183–192.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bay-Petersen, J. 1986. New technology for low-income farmers in developing countries. Outlook Agric. 15:110–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boers, T.M., and J. Ben-Asher. 1982. A review of rainwater harvesting. Agric. Water Manag. 5:145–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, T.H., H.A. Nix, M.F. Hutchinson, and J.R. Busby. 1987. Grid matching: A new method for homoclime analysis. Agric. Forest Meteor. 39:241–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breman, H., and P.W.J. Uithol. 1987. Communication of the results of the “Primary Production in the Sahel (PPS)” research project. Soil Tillage Res. 9:387–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L.R., and J. Jacobson. 1987. Assessing the future of urbanization. In: L.R. Brown (proj. dir.), State of the World 1987, A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society. W.W. Norton, New York, pp. 38–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L.R., and J. Jacobson. 1987. Assessing the future of urbanization. In: L.R. Brown (proj. dir.), State of the World 1987, A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society. W.W. Norton, New York, pp. 219–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, L.R., and E.C. Wolf. 1986. Assessing ecological decline. In: L.R. Brown (proj. dir.), State of the World 1986, A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society. W.W. Norton, New York, pp. 22–39, 215–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centre for Science and Environment. 1985. The State of India’s Environment. SCE, New Delhi, India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chase, R.G., and E. Boudouresque. 1988. A study of methods for the revegetation of barren, crusted Sahelian forest soils. In: C.M. Renard (ed.), Proc. Int. Workshop on Soil, Water and Crop/Livestock Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone, Niamey, Niger, January 1987. ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India, p. 115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chase, R.G., J.W. Wendt, and L.R. Hossner. 1988. Crop growth variability in sandy Sahelian soils. In: C.M. Renard (ed.), Proc. Int. Workshop on Soil, Water and Crop/Livestock Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone, Niamey, Niger, January 1987. ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India, p. 126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, P.M.J., P.J. Gregory, D. Tully, and H.C Harris. 1987. Improving water-use efficiency of annual crops in the rainfed farming systems of west Asia and north Africa. Exp. Agric. 23:113–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doorenbos, J., and W.O. Pruitt. 1977. Crop water requirements. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper No. 24. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dregne, H.E. 1982. Dryland soil resources. Science and Technology Agriculture Report, Agency for International Development, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eicher, C., and D. Baker. 1982. Research on agricultural development in subsanaran Africa: A critical survey. International Development Paper No. 1, Michigan State University, East Lansing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, L.F., and J.M. Lynch. 1984. The effect of available carbon and nitrogen in straw on soil aggregation and acetic acid production. Plant Soil 78:335–343.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1974. Improving productivity in low rainfall areas. Report to the Committee on Agriculture. COAG/74/4 Rev. 1. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1978a. Report on the agro-ecological zones project: Methodology and results for Africa. World Soil Resource Report 481. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1978b. Report on the agro-ecological zones project: Results for southwest Asia. World Soil Resource Report 48/2. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1980. Report on the agro-ecological zones project: Results for southeast Asia. World Soil Resource Report 48/4. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1981. Report on the agro-ecological zones project: Methodology and results for South and Central America. World Soil Resource Report 48/3. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1982. Potential population supporting capacities of lands in the developing world. Report FPA/INT/513. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1986. African agriculture: The next 25 years. Main Report ARC/86/3. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO. 1987. Improving productivity of dryland areas. Committee on Agriculture Report COAG/87/7. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO/UNEP. 1983. Guidelines for the Control of Soil Degradation. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryrear, D.W., and E.L. Skidmore. 1985. Methods for controlling wind erosion. In: R.F. Follett and B.A. Steward (eds.) Soil Erosion and Crop Productivity. ASA-CSSA-SSSA. Madison, WI, pp. 443–457.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geiger, R. 1965. The Climate Near the Ground. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, A.H., M.M. Roper, and D.M. Halsall. 1986. Straw breakdown to fuel nitrogen fixation in soil. CSIRO Div. Plant Ind. Rep. 1985–86. CSIRO Inst. Bio. Res., Canberra, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greb, B.W. 1979. Technology and wheat yields in the central Great Plains: Commercial advances. J. Soil Water Conserv. 34:269–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greb, B.W. 1983. Water conservation: Central Great Plains. In: H.E. Dregne and W.O. Willis (eds.) Dryland Agriculture, Agronomy monograph 23. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI, pp. 57–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greb, B.W., D.E. Smika, and J.R. Welsh. 1979. Technology and wheat yields in the central Great Plains: Experiment station advances. J. Soil Water Conserv. 34:264–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greb, B.W., D.E. Smika, N.P. Woodruff, and C.J. Whitefield. 1974. Summer fallow in the central Great Plains. In: USDA Conserv. Res. Rep. No. 17. USDA, Washington, pp. 51–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • House, L.R. 1987. Sorghum—present status and future potential. Outlook Agric. 16:21–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, O.R., and V.L. Hauser. 1975. Runoff utilization for grain production. In: Proc. Water Harvest Symposium, March 26–28, 1974, Phoenix, AZ. ARS-W-22, USDA, Washington, pp. 277–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Killham, K. 1985. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal mediation of trace and minor element uptake in perennial grasses: Relation to livestock herbage. In: A.H. Fitter (ed.), Ecological Interactions in Soil. Special Publ. No. 4, British Ecol. Soc. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, U.K., pp. 225–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koundandji, E. 1987. Use of natural phosphates in low rainfall zones. In: C.M. Renard (ed.), Proc. Int. Workshop on Soil, Water and Crop/Livestock Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone, Niamey, Niger, January 1987. ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India, p. 130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lal, R. 1987. Managing the soils of sub-Saharan Africa. Science 236:1069–1076.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lele, U. 1984. The role of risk in an agriculturally led strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Am. J. Agric. Econ. 66(5):677–683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J.M. 1985. Microbial saprophytic activity on straw and other residues: Consequences for the plant. In: R.H. Fitter (ed.) Ecological Interactions in Soil. Special Publ. No. 4, British Ecol. Soc. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, U.K., pp. 181–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mageed, Y.A. 1986. Anti-Desertification Technology and Management. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCalla, T.M., and T.J. Army. 1961. Stubble mulch farming. Adv. Agron. 13:125–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newcombe, K. 1984. An economic justification for rural afforestation: The case for Ethiopia. Energy Dept. Paper No. 16. World Bank, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • OTA (Office of Technical Assistance), U.S. Congress. 1986. Continuing The Commitment: Agricultural Development in the Sahel. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohm, H., J. Nagy, and S. Sawadogo. 1985. Complementary effects of tied ridging and fertilization with cultivation by hand and donkey and ox traction. In: H. Ohm and S. Nagy (eds.), Appropriate Technologies for Farmers in Semi-Arid West Africa. Purdue University Press, Lafayette, IN. pp. 61–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oram, P. 1980. What are the world resources and constraints for dryland agriculture? In: Proc. Int. Congress Dryland Farming. South Australia Department of Agriculture, Adelaide, Australia, pp. 17–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papendick, R.I. 1984. Tillage Practices in Low Rainfall Agriculture in the United States. FAO Panel of Experts on Agricultural Mechanization, Report of the 6th Session. University of Cukurova, Adena, Turkey. FAO, Rome.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papendick, R.I., M.J. Lindstrom, and V.L. Cochran. 1973. Soil mulch effects on seedbed temperature and water during fallow in eastern Washington. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Proc. 37:207–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papendick, R.I., F.L. Choudhury, and C. Johnson. 1988. Managing systems for increasing productivity pulses in dryland agriculture. In: R.J. Summerfield (ed.) World Crops: Cool Season Food Legumes. Martinus Nijhoff/Dr. W. Junk, Dordrecht, The Netherlands (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Postel, S. 1984. Protecting forests. In: L.R. Brown (proj. dir.), State of the World 1984, A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society. W.W. Norton, New York, pp. 74–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Postel, S. 1984. Protecting forests. In: L.R. Brown (proj. dir.), State of the World 1984, A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Toward a Sustainable Society. W.W. Norton, New York, pp. 219–222.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puckridge, D.W., and E.D. Carter. 1980. Dryland agriculture in southern Australia and its relationship to other regions—a perspective. In: Proc. Int. Congress Dryland Farming. South Australia Department of Agriculture, Adelaide, Australia, pp. 155–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Read, D.J., R. Francis, and R.D. Finaly. 1985. Mycorrhizal mycelia and nutrient cycling in plant communities. In: A.H. Fitter (ed.) Ecological Interactions in Soil. Special Publ. No. 4, British Ecol. Soc. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, U.K., pp. 193–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridge, P.E. 1986. A review of long fallows for dryland wheat production in southern Australia. J. Aust. Inst. Agric. Sci. 52:37–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanford, S. 1987. Crop residue/livestock relationships. In: C.M. Renard (ed.), Proc. Int. Workshop on Soil, Water and Crop/Livestock Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone, Niamey, Niger, January 1987. ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India, p. 148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schramm, G., and D. Jhirad. 1984. Sub-Saharan Africa Policy Paper—Energy. World Bank, Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaffer, J., M. Weber, M. Riley, and J. Staatz. 1983. Influencing the design of marketing systems to promote development in Third World countries. Paper presented at Int. Workshop Agric. Markets in the Semi-Arid Tropics, ICRISAT, Hyderabad, India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sicoli, F. 1980. Women in rural development: Recommendations and realities. Ceres (FAO Review on Agriculture and Development) 13(3):15–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sieverding, E. 1986. Influence of soil water regimes on VA mycorrhiza. IV. Effect on root growth and water relations of sorghum bicolor. J. Agron. Crop Sci. 157:36–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smika, D.E. 1970. Summer fallow for dryland winter wheat in the semi-arid Great Plains. Agron. J. 62:15–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, B.A., and E. Burnett. 1987. Water conservation technology in rainfed and dryland agriculture. In: W.R. Jordon (ed.) Water and Water Policy in World Food Supplies. Texas A & M University Press, College Station, pp. 355–359.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J.I. 1986a. Mediterranean-type climate, wheat production and response farming. In: R.I. Papendick, J.F. Parr, and C.E. Whitman (eds.), Proc. Workshop on Soil, Water and Crop/Livestock Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in the Near East Region, Amman, Jordan, January, 1986. USDA, Washington (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J.I. 1986b. Response farming for improvement of rainfed crop production in Jordon. In: R.I. Papendick, J.F. Parr, and C.E. Whitman (eds.), Proc. Workshop on Soil, Water and Crop/Livestock Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in the Near East Region, Amman, Jordan, January 1986. USDA, Washington (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J.I. 1986c. Development of management strategies for minimizing the impact of seasonal variation in rainfall. In: Proc. Int. Consultants’ Meeting on Research on Drought Problems in the Arid and Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, India, November 1986. ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J.I. 1987. Potential for response farming in sub-Saharan Africa. In: C.M. Renard (ed.), Proc. Int. Workshop on Soil, Water and Crop/Livestock Management Systems for Rainfed Agriculture in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone, Niamey, Niger, January 1987. ICRISAT Center, Patancheru, India, p. 120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sung-Chiao, 1981. Desert lands of China. I. The sandy deserts and the Gobi: A preliminary study of their origin and evolution. ICASALS Publ. No. 81–1. Int. Center for Arid and Semi-Arid Land Studies. Texas Tech University, Lubbock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tate, R.L. 1987. Soil Organic Matter: Biological and Ecological Effects. John Wiley, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmer, C., W. Falcon, and S. Pearson. 1983. Food Policy Analysis. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. 1977. World Map of Desertification. United Nations Conference on Desertification Report A/Conf. 74/2. United Nations, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Unger, P.W. 1984. Tillage Systems for Soil and Water Conservation. FAO Soils Bulletin 54. FAO, Rome, 278 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA, Agricultural Research Service. 1974. Summer fallow in the western United States. Conservation Research Report No. 17. USDA, Washington, 160 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA. 1985. World Indices of Agricultural and Food Production, 1950–84. Economic Research Service (unpublished printout), Washington.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, G., D.P. Stribley, P.B. Tinker, and C. Walker. 1985. Soil pH and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas. In: A.H. Fitter (ed.) Ecological Interactions in Soil. Special Publ. No. 4, British Ecol. Soc. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, U.K., pp. 219–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willcocks, T.J. 1984. Tillage requirements in relation to soil type in semi-arid rainfed agriculture. J. Agric. Eng. Res. 30:1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodruff, N.P., L. Lyles, F.H. Siddoway, and D.W. Fryrear. 1972. How to control wind erosion. USDA Agric. Info. Bull. 354, USDA, Washington, 22 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, M.J. 1976. Plant Adaption to Mineral Stress in Problem Soils. Spec. Pub., Cornell Univ., Agric. Exp. Sta., Ithaca, NY.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Steiner, J.L., Day, J.C., Papendick, R.I., Meyer, R.E., Bertrand, A.R. (1988). Improving and Sustaining Productivity in Dryland Regions of Developing Countries. In: Stewart, B.A. (eds) Advances in Soil Science. Advances in Soil Science, vol 8. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8771-8_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8771-8_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8773-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-8771-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics