Browsing by Author "Gamba, Abiud"

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Effects of Climate Smart Agricultural practices and Planting Dates on Maize Growth and Nutrient Uptake in Semi-Arid Tanzania
(International Journal of Biosciences, 2020-05-15) Gamba, Abiud; Kimaro, Anthony; Mtei, Kelvin
The shift of growing season’s onset due to rainfall and seasonal variability are among the climate change impacts affecting agricultural productivity in semi-arid. Previous studies have also noted the seasonal variations in planting windows in semi-arid Tanzania. Because of such rainfall variability due to uncertainties of climate change, farmers face difficulties in determining the appropriate planting dates. Though, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices are reinforced to mitigate such climatic extremes and sustain crop production, there is limited information on the performance of CSA practices under the uncertainty of planting windows due to unpredictable rainfall on-set and patterns. This study assessed the effects of CSA practices at different planting windows on maize growth and nutrient uptakes at Mlali village of Dodoma, Tanzania. A split-plot experimental design was adopted, treatments involved CSA practices (Chololo pits, tied ridges, intercropping and Oxcultivation – as a control) and/at planting windows (Early, Normal and Late planting). The planting windows were determined based on previous studies and Tanzania national weather forecasts. The results showed that, CSA practices had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on maize height and N nutrient uptake. Similar biomass and Mg nutrient uptake were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by both CSA practices and planting dates though Leaf Area Index (LAI) were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by planting windows. Chololo pits and tied ridges and late planting dates had the highest soil moisture, plant heights, and biomass. Ox-cultivation had a slight high N, K and Mg nutrient uptake followed with Chololo pits and tied ridges.
Resilience and economic benefits of climate smartagriculture practices in semi-arid Tanzania
(NM-AIST, 2020-06) Gamba, Abiud
The shift of growing seasons onset due to rainfall and seasonal variability are among the climate change impacts affecting agricultural productivity in semi-arid. Seasonal variations in planting dates in semi-arid Tanzania because of climate variability and change make difficulties among farmers in determining the appropriate planting dates. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices are reinforced to mitigate such climate change impacts and sustain crop production, though there is limited information on the performance of CSA practices under the uncertainty of planting dates due to unpredictable rainfall on-set and patterns. This study assessed the effects of CSA practices, planting dates and interaction on soil moisture, maize growth and yield and their economic benefits at Mlali village of Dodoma, Tanzania. A split-plot experimental design was adopted, treatments involved four CSA practices and three planting dates. Maize plant height, leaf area index and biomass were measured during growth while grain, nutrient uptake and economics monitored at harvest. In both seasons, chololo pits and tied ridges CSA practices demonstrated the highest soil moisture at 10.8% and 13% that influenced maize growth and yield. Chololo pits at early and tied-ridges at late planting dates significantly (p = 0.047 and p = 0.001) increased grain yield respectively in both seasons. In 2017/2018, tied ridges at normal planting dates had higher marginal net return of 910 USD ha -1 and 697 USD ha -1 similarly in 2018/2019, tied ridges at late (315 USD ha -1 ) and chololo pits at early planting (434 USD ha -1 ). These results recommend chololo pits at early and tied ridges at late planting dates as appropriate CSA practices for resilience and economic benefits among smallholder farmers in semi-arid Tanzania.