The study was conducted during 2018 cropping season at Dugda Woreda to investigate the effect of in situ moisture conservation techniques on grain yield and yield components of maize. The treatments comprised of tied ridge, furrow closed at both end and farmer’s practices( as the control). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design(RCBD) with three replication. The grain yield and thousand seed weight were highly significant different (p<0.001) on tied ridge and furrow closed at both end as compared to farmer practices. But number of stand counts and cobs at harvest per hectare were not significantly (p>0.05) varied on tied ridge,furrow closed at both end and farmer practice respectively. Tied ridge practices increased maize grain yield and thousand seed weight (gm)by up to 45.52% (2.7913 tonha-1) and 41.43% over farmer practice(control) respectively. Also furrow closed at both end increased the grain yield and thousand seed weight (gm) by up 30.68% (1.882 tonha-1) and 27.63% as compared to farmers' practice respectively. These results claim the potential use of tied ridge and furrow closed at both end improved grain yield and thousand seed weight in study areas by enhancing moisture in the soil. Therefore, in situ moisture conservation(tied ridge and furrow closed at both end) structure is promising moisture conservation structures to mitigate dry spell period and improve maize production in the study area and similary agro ecology.

Keywords: Tied ridge, Furrow closed at both end, yield and moisture deficit