Background: Africa is the most vulnerable continent in the world; which recurrent droughts, extreme temperature and rainfall affects agriculture and food security. The aim of this study was to analyze the trends in extreme temperature and rainfall in major sesame producing areas in western Tigray using RClimDex software. We selected eight temperature and nine rainfall indices from 27 extreme temperature and rainfall indices, which are recommended by joint CCL/CLIVAR/JCOMM Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). A non-parametric Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimates were used to test the statistical significance and trend of each of the extreme temperature and rainfall indices, respectively.Results: Number of heavy rainy days, number of very heavy rainy days, very wet days, extremely wet days, and maximum 5 days precipitation showed a negative trend, with significant (p < 0.05) decrease throughout the study area. Monthly maximum value of maximum and minimum value of maximum temperature, monthly maximum and minimum value of minimum temperature, hot days and hot nights revealed positive trend throughout the study areas. Total rainfall was decreasing significantly (p < 0.05) by 13.34 mm, 13.8 mm, 14.65 mm, 10.9 mm and 8.4 mm/year at Humera and Dansha, Adiremets, Maygaba, Maytsebri and Sheraro, and Adigoshu, respectively. Spatial analysis on extreme temperature also indicated there was relatively lower variability on minimum temperature in Humera, Dansha, Adiremets, and Adigoshu. On average, the western part of Tigray experienced a reduction in total rainfall ranging 8.45 to 14.7 mm/year; and increase in average maximum temperature of 0.04 to 0.051 °C/year since 1983 to 2016. The results also revealed an increase in warm nights and warm days ranging from 0.31 to 0.62 days, and 0.38 to 0.71 days/ year, respectively. Conclusions:Increase in temperature and decrease in amount of rainfall may have a negative impact on crop transpiration, photosynthetic rate and soil water balance; exacerbating distribution and infestation of malaria and leishmaniasis. The results in this study could have an important role in identifying possible present and future production strategies on sesame, cotton, and sorghum crops, which are essential cash crops produced by farmers and investors.
Most previous studies focused on intercropping systems involving two-crop associations. However, there is much scope to improve existing cropping systems by devising and evaluating modifications that allow more effective use of the season. To this effect, experiments were conducted to quantify efficiency of sequential intercropping consisting of maize (Zea mays L.), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek) during 2007 and 2009 cropping seasons, in southern Ethiopia. Treatments included three-and two-crop associations and equivalent sole crops of components. Land equivalent ratio (LER) and area time equivalency ratio (ATER) were used to estimate intercropping advantage. Maize had the highest partial LER, 0.95, whenever mung bean comes first in the sequence. Comparable partial LERs were observed in common bean irrespective of planting times while mung bean had greater partial LERs from simultaneous rather than sequential planting. Maize had the highest competitive ratio (1.56) followed by common bean (0.67) and mung bean (0.53). The three-crop association involving simultaneous planting of maize with mung bean followed by common bean (MZ + MB − CB) gave the highest mean total LER of 1.66. This combination also had the highest combined productivity and maximum monetary gain, which is above the minimum acceptable marginal rate of return. It exceeded advantages from intercrops of maize-common bean by 41% and maize-mung bean by 23%. Thus, farmers would get greater advantage from practicing sequential intercropping in areas where the season is sufficient to grow long-duration maize.
Field experiments were conducted at three locations with Zn deficient soils in southern Ethiopia during 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons to evaluate the effects of Zn fertilization strategies and varietal differences on Zn content and plant performance of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Factorial combinations of three Zn fertilization strategies and five varieties were laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications in each location and year. A combined analysis of variance was made using a mixed effects model. Zinc foliar application increased grain Zn content by 21 and 22% over Zn soil application and seed priming, respectively. The improvements were around four folds for straw Zn content for the same comparisons. Effects of Zn application strategies on gain and straw Zn contents were consistent across locations. The grain Zn concentration varied among the varieties ranging from 34 mg kg -1 for Mastewal to 42 mg kg -1 for the Landrace and variety Arerti. Zn application strategies did not affect the growth and yield parameters, except for pod bearing branches. FoliarZn application and appropriate variety selection are potential approaches for Zn biofortification in chickpea.Further study aimed at identifying most effective spray timing for maximum grain quality response would be worthwhile to cut fertilizer and application costs.
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