Performance of sorghum varieties under variable rainfall in Central Tanzania
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Date
2017-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hindawi
Abstract
Rainfall variability has a significant impact on crop production with manifestations in frequent crop failure in semiarid areas. This
study used the parameterized APSIM crop model to investigate how rainfall variability may affect yields of improved sorghum
varieties based on long-term historical rainfall and projected climate. Analyses of historical rainfall indicate a mix of nonsignificant
and significant trends on the onset, cessation, and length of the growing season. The study confirmed that rainfall variability indeed
affects yields of improved sorghum varieties. Further analyses of simulated sorghum yields based on seasonal rainfall distribution
indicate the concurrence of lower grain yields with the 10-day dry spells during the cropping season. Simulation results for future
sorghum response, however, show that impacts of rainfall variability on sorghum will be overridden by temperature increase. We
conclude that, in the event where harms imposed by moisture stress in the study area are not abated, even improved sorghum
varieties are likely to perform poorly.
Description
Keywords
Sorghum Varieties, Rainfall variability