Resilience and economic benefits of climate smartagriculture practices in semi-arid Tanzania

Abstract

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.