Determination of humidity-referenced potential areas for crop production in Tanzania
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Date
1999
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study sought determine the potential area for production of maize,sorghum,groundnuts and beans based humidity levels. The specific objectives to on were; determine monthly humidity grades of the meteorological stations,to demarcate humidity zones,to establish potential for cultivation of the crops and to compare the established with those where selected crops are currently grown. Rainfall and evapotranspiration data of 97 stations were collected from the Directorate of Meteorology while the maximum water holding capacity,the growing periods and the crop coefficients of the selected crops were estimated from those available in the literature. Data analysis was based on hydrologic budget balancing model for stations and the computer packages; Microsoft Excel for windows 95 Version 7.0 and QUATRO PRO Version 4.00 were applied for determination for of humidity levels. Potential areas were delimited by grouping of stations of the same humidity levels. The areas were then compared those under current production. The study found that the approach seems to provide basic-information on potentials and and therefore be used for agricultural planning purposes. A fairly large percentage of areas established through this method ,especially for maize and sorghum, coincide with the current production areas. Among the three crops beans have shown the greatest potential over the country's total area and only 20% of it is utilized while groundnuts have the highest percentage of its potential area being unutilized. Recommendations from the study include: Mapping out of crop potentials related other factors to improve the predictability of the methods for agricultural planning Similar studies on specific crops be carried out in small areas and later to be combined to cover the whole country. Zonal research centres be involved to establish more meteorological stations so that each portion of the country is well covered.
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Maize production, Sorghum production, Groundnuts production, Beans production, Crop production