DEPARTMENT OF DRYLAND
AGRICULTURE AND NUTURAL
RESOURCES MANAGEMRENT
PRINCIPLES OF DRYLAND CROP
PRODUCTION
08/02/2022 Email: [email protected] (252) 63 4443075
UNIT 1: THE DRYLANDS
INTRODUCTION
Drylands cover 41.3% of the earth’s land surface, including 15% of Latin America, 66% of
Africa, 40% of Asia and 24% of Europe.
Worldwide there is a significantly greater proportion of drylands in developing countries
(72%).
The drylands are the areas of undependable rainfall in which the average precipitation is
deficient in relation to water requirements of crops.
According to United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), drylands are defined as those
lands that have:
A precipitation (P) over potential evapotranspiration (PET)
Ratio of less than 0.65 (this ratio is referred to as aridity index).
Categories of drylands of the world
Somaliland Agro-Ecological zones
Somaliland topographic map
Categories of drylands of the world
Drylands are classified based on the aridity index; semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas (0.50 to 0.65).
The hyper arid zones (ratio less than 0.05) has low annual rainfall of less than 100 mm. it has
sparse annual and perennial vegetation and scattered shrubs where true nomadic pastoralism is
practiced.
In the arid zones (0.05 to 0.20), pastoralism and little farming is practiced, except where irrigation is
possible. Vegetation typically is sparse, comprised of annual and perennial grasses, other herbaceous
plants, shrubs, and small trees. Rainfall variability is high; with annual amounts ranging between 100
and 300mm.
Semiarid zones (0.20 to 0.50) often can support rainfed and sustained levels of agricultural
production. Sedentary livestock production occurs. Annual rainfall varies from 300 to 800 mm,
depending upon the relative occurrences of summer and winter rains.
Dry sub-humid areas have wetter conditions; crops are grown and have higher population densities.
Categories of dryland agriculture
Crop production constraints in dryland areas Climatic
Climatic constraints
Climate change is expected to have a negative impact on crop
production, which affects the livelihoods of most of the poor in the
drylands.
- Low amount of rainfall
- High temperature
- Long dry spells that are becoming more frequent and severe.
Edaphic constraints
-Soils are thin and subject to erosion
-Soils have low water holding capacity of soils because of low rainfall,
shallow depth and low organic matter
-Most Soils are of low organic matter (less than 1%)- caused by high
temperature that encourages decomposition and low external organic
inputs
-Low soil fertility is common particularly N and P and micronutrients
such as Zn. Attributed to soil erosion, low organic matter
-Hard surface soil layers in red soils- affect crop emergence and
overall plant population
Poor agronomic practices
Field operations (e.g. ploughing, harrowing, owing, weeding by
cultivation) often done along the slope which encourage run off.
Little use of organic fertilizers e.g. manure
Ineffective weeding
Poor storage and postharvest pest management
Poor choice of varieties
Poor management of insects and Diseases
Heavy weed infestation which grow faster than crop plants and
have higher water requirements. The weeds therefore cause
severe water stress to crop plants.
Socio-economic constraints:
- Farmers economically weak
- Poor access to inputs and markets
- Lack of credit due to the risk caused
- Poor agricultural extension service
Soil conservation measures
Agronomic measures of soil conservation
Aims to: maintain soil infiltration capacity, protect soil from rainfall, control surface runoff and safely
dispose surface runoff. The following practices are recommended:
Physical Measures:
- In situ soil moisture conservation practices using e.g.
Ridges, -
Furrows; Tied ridging,
Bench terracing –
Vegetative barriers
Forestry Measures: Agroforestry
Agropastrological measures: Grass-legume pastures
