Dataset Information

Drought patterns: their spatiotemporal variability and impacts on maize production in Limpopo province, South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Due to global climate change, droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in many regions such as in South Africa. In Limpopo, observed high climate variability and projected future climate change will likely increase future maize production risks. This paper evaluates drought patterns in Limpopo at two representative sites. We studied how drought patterns are projected to change under future climatic conditions as an important step in identifying adaptation measures (e.g., breeding maize ideotypes resilient to future conditions). Thirty-year time horizons were analyzed, considering three emission scenarios and five global climate models. We applied the WOFOST crop model to simulate maize crop growth and yield formation over South Africa's summer season. We considered three different crop emergence dates. Drought indices indicated that mainly in the scenario SSP5-8.5 (2051-2080), Univen and Syferkuil will experience worsened drought conditions (DC) in the future. Maize yield tends to decline and future changes in the emergence date seem to impact yield significantly. A possible alternative is to delay sowing date to November or December to reduce the potential yield losses. The grain filling period tends to decrease in the future, and a decrease in the duration of the growth cycle is very likely. Combinations of changed sowing time with more drought tolerant maize cultivars having a longer post-anthesis phase will likely reduce the potential negative impact of climate change on maize.

SUBMITTER: Ferreira NCR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9758106 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Drought patterns: their spatiotemporal variability and impacts on maize production in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Ferreira Nicole Costa Resende NCR Rötter Reimund Paul RP Bracho-Mujica Gennady G Nelson William C D WCD Lam Quang Dung QD Recktenwald Claus C Abdulai Isaaka I Odhiambo Jude J Foord Stefan S

International journal of biometeorology 20221207 1

Due to global climate change, droughts are likely to become more frequent and more severe in many regions such as in South Africa. In Limpopo, observed high climate variability and projected future climate change will likely increase future maize production risks. This paper evaluates drought patterns in Limpopo at two representative sites. We studied how drought patterns are projected to change under future climatic conditions as an important step in identifying adaptation measures (e.g., breed ...[more]

PMID: 36474028

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Project description:The study was conducted to phenotypically characterize Nguni goats from four agro-ecological zones of Limpopo province, South Africa. A total of 426 goats were sampled from four agro-ecological zones. The quantitative traits that were studied for phenotypic characterization using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were heart girth (HG), body length (BL), withers height (WH), sternum height (SH), rump height (RH), rump length (RL), rump width (RW), cannon circumference (CC), testicular length (TL) and scrotal circumference (SC) while qualitative traits were coat colour pattern and type, back profile, ear orientation, presence of horn, horn shape and orientation. The study further looked at the structural indices of the goats. The findings indicated that the agro-ecological zones significantly affected (P<0.05) the quantitative traits of Nguni goats. Female goats from arid zone had higher (P<0.05) BW, HG, BL, WH, RH, and CC with mean values of 35.76±0.92, 73.89±0.63, 66.26±0.62, 63.40±0.56, 64.71±0.44 and 8.07±0.06, respectively as compared to the other zones. Male goats from arid zone had higher (P<0.05) BW, HG, BL, RW, TL and SC with mean values of 37.20±2.29, 78.75±1.44, 70.95±1.57, 16.83±0.38, 15.50±0.50 and 31.00±0.00, respectively as compared to other zones. In terms of qualitative traits, the goats were characterized by higher proportion of patchy coat colour pattern (62.7%), brown dominant colour type (42.6%), straight back profile (46.6%), and semi-pendulous ear orientation (65.4%). The goats had horns (100%), curved horn shape (71.6%) and backward horn orientation (89.4%). Though the agro-ecological zone had non-significant influence (P>0.05) on the qualitative traits. Findings of structural indices on dactyl-thoracic, transversal pelvic, longitudinal pelvic and proportionality indicated that the Nguni goats can be matched as light medium meat type. In conclusion, the variation in morphometric traits of Nguni goats and knowing their structural and functional indices can assist in their conservation and genetic improvement. There was no difference in the qualitative traits of the goats in four agro-ecological zones. Studies needed to be conducted on genetic characterization using genetic markers to integrate the information from morphological traits.

Dataset Information

Drought patterns: their spatiotemporal variability and impacts on maize production in Limpopo province, South Africa.

Publications

Drought patterns: their spatiotemporal variability and impacts on maize production in Limpopo province, South Africa.

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