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TY - JOUR
T1 - Local impacts of climate change and agronomic practices on dry land crops in Southern Africa
JO - Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment
VL - 197
IS -
SP - 1
EP - 10
PY - 2014/12/1/
T2 -
AU - Zinyengere, Nkulumo
AU - Crespo, Olivier
AU - Hachigonta, Sepo
AU - Tadross, Mark
SN - 0167-8809
DO - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2014.07.002
UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880914003624
KW - Agronomic practices
KW - Cereals
KW - Climate change
KW - Groundnut
KW - Modeling
AB - Abstract
Climate change impact assessments on agriculture in Southern Africa are mostly carried out at large spatial scales, risking missing out on local impacts and adaptation potential that reflect the range of multiple and unique bio-physical and agronomic conditions under which farmers in the region operate. This study investigated how climate change may affect yields of various major food crops in specific locations in the region; maize and sorghum (Mohales Hoek Lesotho and Big Bend Swaziland), maize and groundnut (Lilongwe Malawi). Using statistically downscaled climate projections from nine GCMs and the DSSAT crop model and simulating selected agronomic strategies practiced in each location, the study confirmed that impacts of climate change on crop yields in Southern Africa vary across locations and crops. Despite various uncertainties associated with such assessments, the results showed that crop yields were predominantly projected to decline in Big Bend (maize (20%); sorghum (16%)) and Lilongwe (maize (5%); groundnut (33%)). However, crop yields in Mohales Hoek, located in a high altitude region historically prone to cold related crop yield losses were on average projected to increase (maize (+8%) and sorghum (+51%)). The geographical variation of yield projections highlights the importance of location specific climate change impact assessments. The exploration of local agronomic management alternatives revealed prospects for identifying locally relevant adaptation strategies, which cannot easily be captured at larger scales.
ER -